formīdo, ĭnis, f. Sanscr. root dhar-, whence firmus; prop. the fear that makes rigid, Corss. Ausspr. 1, 148, fearfulness, fear, terror, dread (class.). Lit.: parasitus, qui me conplevit flagiti et formidinis, Plaut. Men. 5, 5, 3: popolo formidinem inicere, Furius ap. Macr. S. 3, 9, 8: Stoici definiunt formidinem metum permanentem, Cic. Tusc. 4, 8 fin.: ut aliqua in vita formido improbis esset posita, apud inferos antiqui supplicia constituta esse voluerunt, id. Cat. 4, 4, 8: quae tanta formido, id. Rosc. Am. 2, 5: neque miser me commovere possum prae formidine, Plaut. Am. 1. 1, 181: subita atque improvisa, Cic. Prov. Cons. 18, 43: formidinem suam alicui inicere, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 28, § 68: formidinem inferre, Tac. H. 2, 15: intendere, id. ib. 2, 54: facere, id. ib. 3, 10: mortis, Cic. Rep. 1, 3; Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 207: poenae, id. ib. 1, 16, 53: fustis, id. ib. 2, 1, 154.—In plur.: pericula intendantur, formidines opponantur, Cic. Quint. 14, 47: ex ignoratione rerum ipsa horribiles exsistunt formidines, id. Fin. 1, 19, 63: contra formidines pavoresque, Plin. 28, 8, 29, § 115.— In partic., awe, reverence: (portae) religione sacrae et saevi formidine Martis, Verg. A. 7, 608; Sil. 1, 83.— Transf., concr., that which produces fear, a frightful thing, a fright, horror. In gen.: alta ostia Ditis Et caligantem nigrā formidine lucum Ingressus, Verg. G. 4, 468; Front. de Fer. Als. 3: defensoribus moenium praemia modo, modo formidinem ostentare, Sall. J. 23, 1; 66, 1.— In partic., a scarecrow made of differentcolored feathers, a bugbear: cum maximos ferarum greges linea pennis distincta contineat et in insidias agat, ab ipso effectu dicta formido, Sen. de 1ra, 2, 12 (cf. Nemes. Cyneg. 303 sq.): cervum puniceae septum formidine pennae, Verg. A. 12, 750; cf. Luc. 4, 437: furum aviumque Maxima formido, Hor. S. 1, 8, 4.—Personified, as a goddess, Hyg. Fab. prooem. p. 10 Munk.