terrible
adjective (terrible); adverb (terribly)
Everyday
- Terrible means very bad or unpleasant: a terrible storm, a terrible smell. tree →
- Terrible means very serious and causing great harm or fear: a terrible accident. tree →
- Terrible at something means very bad at doing it. tree →
- Informally, terrible can just mean very great: a terrible hurry. tree →
In the lessons
In stories, «terrible» warns the reader about danger or disaster; in fairy tales there are terrible monsters and terrible giants. In everyday life children use it for bad days, bad weather or feeling ill. In writing lessons, teachers encourage stronger or more exact words too: dreadful, awful, horrifying. Phrases: a terrible mistake, feel terrible, terrible at, a terrible fright, terribly sorry.
Examples
- There was a terrible storm last night. tree →
- I feel terrible — I think I have the flu. tree →
- That cheese has a terrible smell. tree →
- I'm terrible at whistling. tree →
- The story was about a terrible dragon. tree →
- It was a terrible accident, but nobody was badly hurt. tree →
- I'm terribly sorry I'm late. tree →
- There arose a very terrible storm. tree →
Note
No -er/-est forms: use «more terrible», or a stronger word. Adverb «terribly» often just means «very»: «terribly sorry», «terribly kind». Old meaning: causing terror; «Ivan the Terrible» means feared, not bad at things.
In Jewish tradition
It often means awe-inspiring, causing great fear and wonder, not just bad. It is used for God and His mighty deeds.
Interpretation. Tradition links this to "fear of God," a mix of awe and respect. God's "terrible" acts, such as the Red Sea, show His power and call for reverence.
Examples
- The glory of his snorting is terrible. (Writings JOB.39.20, JPS 1917) tree →
- Out of the north cometh golden splendour, about God is terrible majesty. (Writings JOB.37.22, JPS 1917) tree →
- Wondrous works in the land of Ham, terrible things by the Red Sea. (Writings PSA.106.22, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
No -er/-est forms: use «more terrible», or a stronger word. Adverb «terribly» often just means «very»: «terribly sorry», «terribly kind». Old meaning: causing terror; «Ivan the Terrible» means feared, not bad at things.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «terrible» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «terrible» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «terrible» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «terrible» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/terrible/