Horrify
/ˈhɔːrɪfaɪ/noun
To cause someone to feel shock or disgust.
Did you know?The root of 'horrify' shares a lineage with words related to terror and shuddering, evoking a primal fear that has haunted humanity since ancient times.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ger-
“to cry out, to speak, to shout, often in fear or alarm.”
Latin
Latin
horrere
“to tremble, shudder, or feel a sense of dread.”
Old French
Old French
horrifier
“to cause to tremble with fear, to terrify.”
Middle English
Middle English
horrifien
“to cause horror or fear; to frighten.”
Modern English
English
horrify
“to instill a sense of fear or shock in someone.”
Explore more surprising origins