sb. Obs. Also 7 in L. form -mentum, pl. -ta. [ad. L. terriculāment-um (Apuleius) a bugbear, f. terriculum something that excites terror, f. terrēre to frighten: see -MENT.] A source or object of dread, esp. of needless dread; a bugbear.
1548. W. Patten, Exped. Scotl., Pref. c iiij. His vaine terriculaments and rattelbladders.
1567–8. Abp. Parker, Corr. (Parker Soc.), 315. Afeared or dismayed with such vain terriculaments of the world.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. iv. II. vi. (1651), 720. Such terriculaments may proceed from natural causes.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Warwick (1811), II. 404. Those who are not Terriculamenta, but Terrores, no fancy-formed Bugbears, but such as carry fear and fright to others about them.
1674. Josselyn, Voy. New Eng., 782. Such like bugbears and Terriculamentaes.
Hence † Terriculament v. Obs., to inspire with groundless fear.
1644. J. Goodwin, Innoc. & Truth Triumph. (1645), 14. The man to whom the shadowes of the mountaines seemed men, was very prudent and advised in his feare, in respect of him that is terriculamented with such apocryphall pretences of feare as these.
