Terrific, a.
Etymology: [L. terrificus; fr. terrere to frighten + facere to make. See Terror, and Fact.]
Causing terror; adapted to excite great fear or dread; terrible; as, a terrific form; a terrific sight.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for terrific; he lists it under awful.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.