Where does “terrifically” come from?
Terrifically derives from English terrific plus the Middle English adverbial suffix -ally, ultimately from Latin terrificus meaning "causing terror."
terrifically (English): In a terrific or extreme way
Definitions
- In a terrific or extreme way
Ancestry of “terrifically”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ally | used with adjectives ending in -ic |
| 2 | English | ahistoric | Synonym of ahistorical |
| 3 | English | historic | Very important; noteworthy: having importance or... |
| 4 | Latin | historicus | historical |
| 5 | Latin | historia | history; account; story |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορία | inquiry, examination, systematic observation,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορέω | to inquire, ask; to examine, observe; to record,... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἵστωρ | one who knows law and right, judge; witness; a... |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | wístōr | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | wéydtōr | one who has seen, one who knows |
| 11 | Indo-European | *weyd- | — |