adj. 1. Repulsive, especially to the sight; revolting. See Synonyms at ugly. 2. Morally offensive; detestable: hideous acts of torture. 3. Causing great harm or fear; terrible: a hideous disease. [Middle English, variant of hidous, from Anglo-Norman and Old French hideus, hisdeus, probably from Old French hisde, hide, horror, fright (probably from alteration, with expressive initial h, of Frankish *egisida, fright, from Germanic *agisōn, from *agiz, fear), or perhaps from Vulgar Latin *hispidōsus, horripilating (from Latin hispidus, rough, shaggy, bristly; probably akin to hirsūtus, hairy, hirsute).] hid′e·osi·ty (-ŏsĭ-tē) n. hide·ous·ly adv. hide·ous·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.