horrent, a. Chiefly poet.
(ˈhɒrənt)
[ad. L. horrēnt-em, pres. pple. of horrēre: see horre v.]
1. Bristling; standing up as bristles; rough with bristling points or projections.
| 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 513 Inclos'd With bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms. 1744 Akenside Pleas. Imag. ii. 699 Terror's icy hand Smites their distorted limbs and horrent hair. 1829 Carlyle Voltaire Misc. 1857 II. 30 A life..horrent with asperities and chasms. 1847 Sir A. De Vere 1st Pt. Mary Tudor v. v, The snakes of the Eumenides Brandish their horrent tresses round my head! 1847 W. E. Steele Field Bot. 55 Excessively hirsute; calyx horrent; leaves jagged. 1878 H. S. Wilson Alp. Ascents i. 15 The horrent peak of the fatal Matterhorn. |
2. Shuddering; feeling or expressing horror.
| 1721 Bailey, Horrent,..abhorring. 1799 Campbell Pleas. Hope ii. 173 There shall he pause with horrent brow, to rate What millions died—that Cæsar might be great. 1825 Southey Tale Paraguay ii. xxvi, Horrent they heard; and with her hands the Maid Prest her eyes close as if she strove to blot The hateful image which her mind portray'd. 1876 J. Ellis Cæsar in Egypt 145 Then went a shout of flame, a horrent cry. |