English Explanatory Dictionary

macabre

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Representing or personifying death.
  2. Obsessed with death or the gruesome.
  3. Ghastly, shocking, terrifying.

Pronunciation

/ˌməˈkɑː.bɹə/ /ˌməˈkɑː.bə/ /məˈkɑb/ /ˌməˈkɑ.bɹə/ /ˌməˈkɑ.bɚ/ en-us-macabre.ogg en-au-macabre.ogg

Word forms

macabre more macabre most macabre

Etymology

Borrowed from French macabre, whose etymology is uncertain. Possibly from the term danse macabre, most commonly believed to be from corruption of the biblical name Maccabees; compare Latin Chorea Machabaeorum. Another theory derives the French term (through Spanish macabro) from Arabic مَقَابِر (maqābir, “cemeteries”), plural of مَقْبَرَة (maqbara) or مَقْبُرَة (maqbura).

Synonyms

ghastly horrifying shocking terrifying

Derived words

danse macabre macabrely macabreness
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