The word "hideous" is spelled as /ˈhɪdiəs/ in IPA phonetic transcription, with the stress on the second syllable. The initial sound is the voiceless "h" sound, followed by the short "i" vowel sound. The "d" and "e" sounds are pronounced together as "di", followed by the long "u" vowel sound. The final sound is the voiceless "s" sound. Despite its spelling, the word is almost always pronounced with three syllables, not four. It means extremely ugly or disgusting.
Hideous is an adjective that describes something extremely ugly, horrifying, or repellent in appearance or manner. It derives from the Latin word "hideus" meaning frightful or monstrous. This term is commonly used to express intense dislike or disgust towards an object, person, or situation.
When describing an object, "hideous" implies a quality of extreme unattractiveness, often associated with disfigurement, deformity, or grotesque features. For instance, a hideous creature might have bulging eyes, warts, or gnarled limbs. It conveys an intense sense of repulsion or revulsion, often provoking feelings of fear or aversion.
The term "hideous" is also used to describe a person's appearance. It suggests that the individual is exceptionally unattractive or physically repulsive. This description often conveys an exaggerated sense of ugliness, emphasizing traits that are considered socially unacceptable or abnormal.
Additionally, "hideous" can be used to characterize an action, behavior, or situation that is morally repugnant or deeply offensive. It suggests that the act is not only distasteful but also morally wrong, causing extreme discomfort or outrage.
Overall, "hideous" is a powerful term that strongly communicates intense aversion or horror towards something or someone, portraying it as excessively unappealing, shocking, or morally offensive.
Horrible; frightful to the sight; exciting terror.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word hideous originated from the Old French word hideus, which was derived from the Latin word hideus meaning frightful or horrible. It is believed that hideus possibly derived from the Latin word hideosus, meaning foul or ugly.