formidolosus
The English word "scary" is translated into Latin as formidolosus.
The term is used to describe something that causes fear or anxiety.
Meaning: causing fear or anxiety (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word formidolosus is built from formido (fear) and the suffix -losus (full of/characterized by), literally meaning "full of fear / causing fear".
Which one should you use?
Perturbans is a formal term that translates to 'disturbing' or 'unsettling.' Metum incutiens is a formal phrase that means 'instilling fear.' Pavorosus is a term used in medieval Latin to describe something frightening or fearful.
Did you know?
- In Roman culture, avoiding things that were formidolosus included the use of 'apotropaic' charms, such as phallic symbols, intended to ward off the evil eye.
- Romans used the word terrere, a relative of 'scary', to describe the act of shaking someone, as fear was physically viewed as a trembling of the body.
- The Latin language distinguishes between the 'scary' feeling of a sudden, heart-pounding panic, known as pavor, and the slow, creeping dread of metus.
Examples in context
- Quod metum incutit!That instills fear!
- Perturbans est!It is disturbing!
- Horribilis est!It is horrifying!
