Terribles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. Characterizing something as extraordinarily bad or unpleasant in quality; describing situations that cause distress or alarm; expressing a very negative and severe condition
  2. Denoting an event or object that is shockingly poor or dreadful; referring to experiences that induce fear or discomfort; indicating an intense degree of negativity or harm
  3. Pertaining to circumstances or items that are frightfully unacceptable or harmful; used to convey extreme dissatisfaction or horror; relating to anything that provokes a strong adverse emotional response

Etymology: The plural noun "terribles" finds its roots in the adjective "terrible," which entered English in the late Middle Ages from Old French "terrible," itself derived from the Latin "terribilis." The Latin word comes from "terrēre," meaning "to frighten" or "to scare." Originally, "terrible" described something that caused terror or dread, often in a literal, fearsome sense. Over time, English speakers began to use the adjective not only to describe frightening things but also to emphasize intensity or severity in a broader range of contexts. By the 16th century, "terrible" could refer to anything very bad or unpleasant, not just things that inspired fear. The plural noun form "terribles," while less common, likely emerged as a way to categorize or refer collectively to acts, events, or things that are terrifying or dreadful. This formation follows a familiar pattern in English where adjectives are nominalized (turned into nouns) by adding an "-s" to talk about instances or examples of the quality the adjective describes. For example, "the unknowns," "the poor," or "the rich" serve similar functions. While "terribles" is not commonly found in everyday speech, it has seen usage in literary or historical contexts to denote multiple dreadful events or entities. The pluralization carries a slightly archaic or formal tone, and its use often hints at a collection of fearful experiences or notorious actions. In essence, the noun form grew naturally out of the adjective’s strong association with fear and dread, extending the concept from a descriptive quality to a label for things embodying that quality.

Synonyms: horribles, dreadfuls, awful ones

Antonyms: goods, wonders