The word "horror" is spelled with two silent letters, the first "h" and the second "r". The IPA phonetic transcription for the word is /ˈhɒr.ər/. The "h" is silent, and the first syllable is pronounced as /ɒr/. The second syllable is pronounced as /ər/ with a silent "r". The spelling of "horror" may be confusing to English learners, but it follows the typical English pattern of silent letters in words.
Horror is a noun that refers to a feeling of intense fear, dread, or terror. It can also encompass the genre of literature, film, or art that seeks to elicit these types of emotions from its audience, commonly known as horror or horror fiction.
In the emotional context, horror is characterized by a profound sense of anxiety or disgust in the face of something frightening or repulsive. It is often accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, sweat, or a desire to flee the threatening situation. Horror can be triggered by a variety of stimuli, such as gory imagery, supernatural elements, or the unknown.
When used to describe a genre, horror can refer to works that aim to invoke fear, shock, or revulsion in their audience. These works often delve into dark, macabre, or supernatural themes, exploiting the deepest fears and vulnerabilities of individuals. Horror narratives commonly center around monsters, supernatural entities, psychological terrors, or a combination thereof.
Notably, horror as a genre can encompass a vast range of subgenres, including slasher, psychological, supernatural, monster, or cosmic horror. It is a genre celebrated for its ability to entertain, thrill, and provoke intense emotions within its fans.
Overall, horror captures the essence of fear and terror, both as a potent emotion and a genre of fiction. It prompts individuals to confront and explore their deepest fears, while simultaneously providing an adrenaline rush and a sense of catharsis.
An excessive degree of fear with a shuddering; extreme dread or terror mixed with detestation; gloom; dreariness; that which excites horror.
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 "horror" is derived from the Latin word "horrere", which means "to bristle, shudder, or tremble". It is connected to the sensation of hair standing on end or goosebumps that occur in moments of fear or terror. Over time, the term evolved to encompass a wide range of emotions associated with fear and disgust, leading to its current usage as a genre of entertainment characterized by fright and suspense.