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n. 1. a. An intense, painful feeling of repugnance and fear. b. A state or condition marked by this feeling: stood in horror looking at the scene. See Synonyms at fear. 2. An intense dislike or abhorrence: had a horror of being forced to play charades at the party. 3. A cause of horror: "The creature that had seemed a horror in its box was, up close, a figure of sorrow" (Paul Theroux). 4. a. A genre of fiction or other artistic work evoking suspense and horror, especially through the depiction of gruesome or supernatural elements. b. A work of this genre. 5. Informal One that is unpleasant, ugly, or disagreeable: That hat is a horror. 6. horrors Informal Intense nervous depression or anxiety. Often used with the. [Middle English horrour, from Old French horreur, from Latin horror, from horrēre, to tremble.] |
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