Lewis & Short

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taeter (less correctly tēter), tra, trum, adj. [perh. from taedet].

  1. I. Physically, offensive, foul, noisome, shocking, hideous, loathsome (class.; syn.: foedus, putidus).
    1. A. Absol.: taetra et immanis belua, Cic. Tusc. 4, 20, 45: odor ex multitudine cadaverum, Caes. B. C. 3, 49: cadavera, Lucr. 2, 415: aut foedā specie taetri turpesque videntur, id. 2, 421: sapor, id. 6, 22: absinthia, id. 1, 936: ulcera, id. 5, 995; 5, 1126; 4, 172; 6, 976: cruor, Verg. A. 10, 727: spiritus, Hor. C. 3, 11, 19; Luc. 1, 618: loca taetra, inculta, foeda atque formidolosa, Sall. C. 52, 13; cf.: taetris tenebris et caligine, Cic. Agr 2, 17, 44: alter, o dii boni, quam taeter mcedebat, quam truculentus, quam terribilis aspectu! id. Sest. 8, 19; cf.: vultus naturā horridus ac taeter, Suet. Calig. 50; Juv. 10, 191: hanc tam taetram, tam horribilem tamque infestam rei publicae pestem toties jam effugimus, Cic. Cat. 1, 5, 11.
      Comp.: aliis aliud retro quoque taetrius esset Naribus, etc., Lucr. 2, 510.
      Sup.: taeterrima hiems, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 15, 1.
    2. B. With abl.: foedā specie taetri, Lucr. 2, 421; cf.: mulier taeterrima vultu, Juv. 6, 418.
      As subst.: taetrum, i, n., offensiveness: quae profluentia necessario taetri essent aliquid habitura, Cic. N. D. 2, 56, 141.
  2. II. Mentally or morally.
    1. A. In gen.
      1. 1. Of persons, horrid, hideous, repulsive, shameful, disgraceful, abominable, etc. (syn.: immanis, turpis): taeter et ferus homo, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 13, 2.
        Sup.: quid ais tu, hominum omnium taeterrume? Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 65: quamquam es omni diritate atque immanitate taeterrimus, Cic. Vatin. 3, 9: quis taetrior hostis huic civitati, id. Cael. 6, 13: qui in eum fuerat taeterrimus, id. Tusc. 1, 40, 96.
      2. 2. Of things: postquam discordia taetra Belli ferratos postes portasque refregit, Enn. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 7, 622 (Ann. v. 270 Vahl.): libido, Hor. S. 1, 2, 33: facinus, Cic. Off. 3, 29, 95: prodigia, Liv. 22, 9.
        Comp.: quibus (sc. cupiditatibus) nihil taetrius nec foedius excogitari potest, Cic. Off. 3, 8, 36: nullum vitium taetrius est, quam avaritia, id. ib. 2, 22, 77.
        Sup.: taeterrimum bellum, Cic. Fam. 10, 14, 2.
    2. B. Esp., neutr. as adv., horridly, horribly, etc.: taetrum flagrat … Horror conscius, Prud. Cath. 4, 22.
      Hence, adv.: taetrē, foully, shockingly, hideously, Cato ap. Charis. p. 196 P.; Cic. Div. 1, 9.
      Sup., Cic. Att. 7, 12, 2.