the word terrible has its roots in the latin verb terrēre, meaning 'to frighten or terrify'. the suffix -ibilis was added to form the latin adjective terribilis, signifying 'causing fear or dread'. this term passed into old french as terrible before being adopted into middle english. while its core sense of 'inspiring terror' remains, its meaning broadened over time to also describe anything of extreme and overwhelming badness, linking the intensity of fear to the intensity of any negative quality.

Structure: terr (frighten) + ible (capable of) terr originates from latin terrēre, meaning 'to frighten'. ible is a suffix from latin -ibilis, indicating capability or susceptibility.