hideux

French

Etymology

From Middle French hideux, from Old French hideus, hydus, hisdos (“that which inspires terror”), from hide, hede, hisda (“horror, fear”), from Proto-West Germanic *agisiþu (“horror, terror”), from Proto-West Germanic *agisōn (“to frighten, terrorise”), from Proto-Germanic *agaz (“terror, fear”).

Alternative etymology cites possible derivation from Latin hispidosus (“rugged”), from hispidus (“rough, bristly”), yet the semantic evolution is more difficult to trace.

Pronunciation

• ^{(aspirated h)} IPA^(key): /i.dø/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ø

Adjective

hideux (feminine hideuse, masculine plural hideux, feminine plural hideuses)

1. grotesque; vile; hideous

See also

• moche
• laid

Further reading

• “hideux”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Middle French

Alternative forms

• hideus

Adjective

hideux m (feminine singular hideuse, masculine plural hideux, feminine plural hideuses)

1. hideous

Descendants

• French: hideux