the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear
reign of terror 1
noundomain: time
Princeton WordNet [ver.3.1]
English
Definition
any period of brutal suppression thought to resemble the Reign of Terror in France
the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear