terror
Meaning
a feeling of extreme fear
violent action or the threat of violent action used to frighten people, especially for political reasons
Structure
Usage
The sound of gunfire struck terror into their hearts.
The regime ruled by terror and intimidation.
She has a terror of spiders.
Etymology
The word terror originates from the Latin noun terror, meaning 'great fear, dread, alarm, panic'. This Latin noun is derived from the verb terrēre, 'to frighten, to terrify'. The core semantic thread from its ancient root to its modern usage is the concept of causing or experiencing intense, overwhelming fear. In English, it has evolved to denote both the profound emotional state itself and, by extension, the systematic use of violence to instill that fear, as seen in the term 'terrorism'.
Analysis
terr is from Latin terrēre, meaning 'to frighten, to terrify'. or is a Latin-derived noun-forming suffix indicating an agent or result.