from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hideous \Hid"e*ous\ (h[i^]d"[-e]*[u^]s; 277), a. [OE. hidous,
OF. hidous, hidos, hidus, hisdos, hisdous, F. hideux: cf. OF.
hide, hisde, fright; of uncertain origin; cf. OHG. egid[imac]
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.
[1913 Webster]
2. Distressing or offensive to the ear; exciting terror or
dismay; as, a hideous noise. "Hideous cries." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]