Language Matters | Tracing ‘terrorism’, the loaded word being applied to the Hong Kong protests
- The word entered English as a very specific term
- While it lacks a universal definition today, most agree that it is highly charged and best avoided
The word “terror” entered Middle English in the early 15th century, from the Old French terreur, from the Latin terrere (“to frighten”). The word “terrorism”, however, entered English in a specific context, as a translation of the word in French – composed of the classical Latin terror and the French -isme suffix – during the period known as the Reign of Terror (La Terreur) in France (1793-94).
At that time, the country was ruled by a Jacobin faction whose leaders declared terror to be “the order of the day” – alluding to terror cimbricus, the state of panic in ancient Rome ahead of the anticipated arrival of Cimbri tribal warriors in 105BC – and made a policy of punishing, usually by execution, anyone deemed to oppose the revolution.
Early use of the word “terrorism” in English, in 1795 – by the Founding Fathers after the American Revolution – makes clear reference to the Reign of Terror.
A more generic use of “terrorism” – still meaning violence executed by a government, but not specifically the French revolutionary government – began in the early 19th century and was subsequently extended to encompass not only violence perpetrated by a government, but also violent action against a government.
In parallel, the meaning of “terrorist” expanded in the 19th century to encompass one who used violent and intimidating methods in the pursuit of political aims, directed at the likes of Irish dissidents or Russian anti-tsarist revolutionaries.
