1530s, from Middle French atrocité or directly from Latin atrocitatem (nominative atrocitas) "cruelty, fierceness, harshness," noun of quality from atrox "fierce, cruel, frightful," from PIE *atro-ek-, from root *ater- "fire" (see atrium) + *okw- "see" (see eye (n.)); thus "of fiery or threatening appearance." The meaning "an atrocious deed" is from 1793.
双语例句
1. These people are guilty of acts of great atrocity.
这些人犯有令人发指的暴行.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. He is as cool as a cucumber upon every act of atrocity.
他面对一切暴行都表现得冷静沉着.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. Her dress is an atrocity.
她的衣着俗不可耐.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
4. The atrocity caused widespread indignation.
那暴行引起了普遍的愤慨.
来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
5. The killing was cold-blooded, and those who committed this atrocity should be tried and punished.