a. [ F., fr. L. terribilis, fr. terrere to frighten. See Terror. ] 1. Adapted or likely to excite terror, awe, or dread; dreadful; formidable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prudent in peace, and terrible in war. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt not be affrighted at them; for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. Deut. vii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Excessive; extreme; severe. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The terrible coldness of the season. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Terrific; fearful; frightful; formidable; dreadful; horrible; shocking; awful. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Ter"ri*ble*ness, n. -- Ter"ri*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. terra + colere to inhabit. ] (Zool.) A division of annelids including the common earthworms and allied species. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The arctic fox. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ CF. L. terere to rub, to rub away, terebra a borer. ] An auger or borer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. [ F. terrier, chien terrier, from terre the earth, L. terra; cf. F. terrier a burrow, LL. terrarium a hillock (hence the sense, a mound thrown up in making a burrow, a burrow). See Terrace, and cf. Terrier, 2. ] (Zool.) One of a breed of small dogs, which includes several distinct subbreeds, some of which, such as the Skye terrier and Yorkshire terrier, have long hair and drooping ears, while others, at the English and the black-and-tan terriers, have short, close, smooth hair and upright ears. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Most kinds of terriers are noted for their courage, the acuteness of their sense of smell, their propensity to hunt burrowing animals, and their activity in destroying rats, etc. See Fox terrier, under Fox. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ F. terrier, papier terrier, LL. terrarius liber, i.e., a book belonging or pertaining to land or landed estates. See Terrier, 1, and cf. Terrar. ] (Law) (a) Formerly, a collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, and the like. (b) In modern usage, a book or roll in which the lands of private persons or corporations are described by their site, boundaries, number of acres, or the like. [ Written also terrar. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. terrificus; fr. terrere to frighten + facere to make. See Terror, and Fact. ] Causing terror; adapted to excite great fear or dread; terrible; as, a terrific form; a terrific sight. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Terrific. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a terrific manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Terrified p. pr. & vb. n. Terrifying ] [ L. terrere to frighten + -fy: cf. F. terrifier, L. terrificare. See Terrific, and -fy. ] 1. To make terrible. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If the law, instead of aggravating and terrifying sin, shall give out license, it foils itself. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To alarm or shock with fear; to frighten. [ 1913 Webster ]

When ye shall hear of wars . . . be not terrified. Luke xxi. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. terrigena, terrigenus; terra the earth + genere, gignere, to bring forth. ] Earthborn; produced by the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]