'horrify' originates from French, specifically the word 'horrifier', where the element 'horr-' traces back to Latin 'horrēre' meaning 'to bristle (with fear)' and the suffix '-fy' comes from Latin 'facere' meaning 'to make'.

'horrify' changed from Old French 'horrifier' (and Latin 'horrificare') and eventually became the modern English word 'horrify' in the mid 17th century.

Initially, it meant 'to cause one to bristle or stand on end (with fear)', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to cause horror or shock'.