tremendous
adj/tɹɪˈmɛndəs/ · /tɹəˈmɛndəs/
Etymology Adapted borrowing of Latin tremendus (“fearful, terrible”, gerundive of tremō (“to tremble”)) + -ous. Doublet of tremend.
1
Awe-inspiring; terrific.
- This she spoke with so commanding an air, standing with her back to the fire, with one hand behind her, and a pinch of snuff in the other, that I question whether Thalestris, at the head of her Amazons, ever made a more tremendous figure.1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling:
2
Notable for its size, power, or excellence.
- Van Beethoven's ninth symphony is a tremendous piece of music.
3
Extremely large (in amount, extent, degree, etc.) or great
- There was a tremendous outpouring of support.
- The tremendous tragedy in which he had been involved - it was evident he was a fugitive from Weybridge - had driven him to the very verge of his reason.1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 113:
- Derived terms
- gigundous, supertremendous, tremendosity, tremendously, tremendousness, untremendous