a. [ OE. hidous, OF. hidous, hidos, hidus, hisdos, hisdous, F. hideux: cf. OF. hide, hisde, fright; of uncertain origin; cf. OHG. egidī horror, or L. hispidosus, for hispidus rough, bristly, E. hispid. ] 1. Frightful, shocking, or offensive to the eyes; dreadful to behold; as, a hideous monster; hideous looks. “A piteous and hideous spectacle.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Distressing or offensive to the ear; exciting terror or dismay; as, a hideous noise. “Hideous cries.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. Hateful; shocking. “Sure, you have some hideous matter to deliver.” Shak.
Syn. -- Frightful; ghastly; grim; grisly; horrid; dreadful; terrible.
-- Hid"e*ous*ly, adv. -- Hid"e*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]