terrify Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb fill with terror; frighten greatly
    terrorise; terrorize.

WordNet


Ter"ri*fy transitive verb
Etymology
L. terrere to frighten + -fy: cf. F. terrifier, L. terrificare. See Terrific, and -fy.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Terrified ; present participle & verbal noun Terrifying
Definitions
  1. To make terrible. Obs.
    If the law, instead of aggravating and terrifying sin, shall give out license, it foils itself. Milton.
  2. To alarm or shock with fear; to frighten.
    When ye shall hear of wars . . . be not terrified. Luke xxi. 9.

Webster 1913