Hid"e*ous [OE. hidous, OF. hidous, hidos, hidus, hisdos, hisdous, F. hideux: cf. OF. hide, hisde, fright; of uncertain origin; cf. OHG. egidi horror, or L. hispidosus, for hispidus rough, bristly, E. hispid.]

1.

Frightful, shocking, or offensive to the eyes; dreadful to behold; as, a hideous monster; hideous looks.

"A piteous and hideous spectacle."

Macaulay.

2.

Distressing or offensive to the ear; exciting terror or dismay; as, a hideous noise.

"Hideous cries."

Shak.

3.

Hateful; shocking.

"Sure, you have some hideous matter to deliver."

Shak.

Syn. -- Frightful; ghastly; grim; grisly; horrid; dreadful; terrible.

-- Hid"e*ous*ly, adv. -- Hid"e*ous*ness, n.

 

© Webster 1913.

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