Dictionary entry

Formidable

Webster's Dictionary 1913

For″mi‐da‐ble (?), a. [L. formidabilis, fr. formidare to fear, dread: cf. F. formidable.] Exciting fear or apprehension; impressing dread; adapted to excite fear and deter from approach, encounter, or undertaking; alarming.

They seemed to fear the formodable sight. Dryden.

I swell my preface into a volume, and make it formidable, when you see so many pages behind. Drydn.

Syn. — Dreadful; fearful; terrible; frightful; shocking; horrible; terrific; tremendous.