etymology · 1600s–1800s
terrific
Drift #4 · May 16, 2026 · emotion
Meaning comparison
Today it means
wonderful; extremely good
It used to mean (1600s–1800s)
causing terror; terrifying; dreadful
Etymology
'Terrific' comes from Latin 'terrificus' — causing terror. For two centuries it meant genuinely frightening. In the 1800s it drifted to mean merely 'extreme in intensity,' and by the twentieth century had flipped entirely to mean wonderfully impressive.
The Drift
How the meaning shifted over time
the drift
1600scausing terror; dreadful; frightening
1800sof extreme or overwhelming intensity
1900s+excellent; wonderful; impressive
In Historical Context
The terrific roar of the cannon shook the earth, and soldiers pressed themselves into the mud as shot flew overhead.
drift fact
'Terrific' and 'terrible' share the Latin root 'terrere' (to frighten) — only 'terrible' kept the dark meaning.
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