American Dictionary of the English Language

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Horror


HOR'ROR, noun [Latin from horreo, to shake or shiver, or to set up the bristles, to be rough.]

1. A shaking, shivering or shuddering, as in the cold fit which precedes a fever. This ague is usually accompanied with a contraction of the skin into small wrinkles, giving it a kind of roughness.

2. An excessive degree of fear, or a painful emotion which makes a person tremble; terror; a shuddering with fear; but appropriately, terror or a sensation approaching it, accompanied with hatred or detestation. horror is often a passion compounded of fear and hatred or disgust. The recital of a bloody deed fills us with horror

A horror of great darkness fell on Abram. Genesis 15:12.

Horror hath taken hold on me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law. Psalms 119:53.

3. That which may excite horror or dread; gloom; dreariness.

And breathes a browner horror on the woods.

4. Dreadful thoughts.

5. Distressing scenes; as the horrors of war or famine.