Terrorist
/ˈtɛr.ə.rɪst/noun
A person who uses violence or intimidation, especially against civilians, to achieve political aims.
Did you know?In its earliest modern political sense, *terrorist* was tied to the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, when *terror* was treated almost like a governing force.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ters-
“to tremble, be dry, be frightened”
Latin
Latin
terrēre
“to frighten, scare, make tremble”
Latin
Latin
terror
“great fear, dread”
Late 18th Century
French
terroriste
“a supporter or agent of the Reign of Terror”
Early 19th Century
English
terrorist
“a person associated with political terror or intimidation”
Modern English
English
terrorist
“a person who uses violence or intimidation, especially against civilians, to achieve political aims”