terrifiedadj.
/ˈtɛrᵻfʌɪd/, U.S. /ˈtɛrəˌfaɪd/ 1. Seized with terror; affected or actuated by terror. In predicative use frequently with of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of terror or horror > [adjective]
affrightOE
ofgrisea1200
adreadc1225
ofgasta1300
aghastc1300
dreadc1300
dreadfula1325
dreadya1325
forfrighteda1325
frightfula1325
gasta1382
dareda1400
aghasteda1425
mazed1493
awfula1522
agazed1557
flaited1565
terrifiedc1586
gastereda1644
scarified1895
c1586 J. Stewart Poems (1913) 13 As terrefeit haeir that rins the honds befoir.
1610 J. Dove Advt. Seminaries 50 The ministery of the word shall be applyed for comfort to the terrified and distressed conscience.
1694 R. Franck Northern Mem. 130 The Bogs and Moors ecchoe again with such hideous Shouts, and dismal Cries from the terrified Priest.
1731 J. Ogilvie tr. P. Giannone Civil Hist. Kingdom Naples II. xxv. i. 300 The terrified Courtiers run all to Castel Nuovo to tell the King of the Tumult.
1765 H. Walpole Castle of Otranto i. 14 Manfred..clapped the door against the terrified Matilda.
1821 W. Scott Kenilworth III. ix. 163 Elizabeth..hastened..along the principal alley of the Pleasance, dragging with her the terrified Countess.
1859 J. E. Tennent Ceylon II. viii. v. 372 A hedge-fire of musketry was kept up in the rear of the terrified elephants.
1909 M. E. Durham in Contemp. Rev. Jan. 18 A woman begged leave to come with me along a certain part, saying she was terrified of the Montenegrin sharpshooters.
1929 H. G. Wells King who was King i. §2. 22 The Broadbrow is as anxious not to be ‘arty’ as the Low-brow and as terrified of the cheap and obvious as the High-brow.
1961 P. de Vomécourt Army of Amateurs xii 143 When ‘Pills’ started pouring the chloroform on the pad, the man looked terrified.
1995 Loaded July 66/1 I only had five minutes left, and suddenly felt terrified at the prospect.
2003 A. Franken Lies xxix. 232 The terrified old woman began wailing in Vietnamese.
2. Expressive of terror; caused by terror.
ΚΠ
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle II. liv. 132 He..saw Pallet with one half of his body thrust out at the window of the other coach, crying with a terrified look.
1796 M. G. Lewis Monk III. x. 155 Her companions at the same moment uttered a terrified scream.
1824 J. Banim Revelations of Dead-alive iii. 33 The green-faced girl who looked in a terrified manner at me.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. i. 3 Her terrified expostulation stopped him.
1940 Amer. Boy Feb. (back cover) (advt.) It was the terrified silence of the girl beside him..that made Chuck so ashamed of himself.
1957 C. Muscatine Chaucer & French Trad. ii. 26 The knight hears the terrified screams of a lady who is about to be raped.
2005 Independent 1 Feb. 12/1 Judging by the terrified look on his face, the German horseman..harboured few hopes..before he was murdered.
Derivatives
ˈterrifiedly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of terror or horror > [adverb]
dreadfully1303
dreadingly1589
dreadly1674
terrifiedly1842
1842 P. Egan Paul Jones I. x. 185 Martha lifted her head up gently and glanced terrifiedly round.
1927 Boys' Life Feb. 22/2 No, he wasn't imagining things now for he distinctly saw, as he terrifiedly looked over.
2006 Observer (Nexis) 8 Oct. (Woman Suppl.) 54 Once safely, visibly, ecstatically, terrifiedly pregnant, I faced savage criticism from many quarters.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.c1586