dread

present singular third person dreads · participle present dreading · participle past dreaded · past dreaded

1. transitiveTo fear greatly.
2. To anticipate with fear.

   I'm dreading getting the results of the test, as it could decide my whole life.

   1 more example

   Day by day, hole by hole our bearing reins were shortened, and instead of looking forward with pleasure to having my harness put on as I used to do, I began to dread it.

   [1877], Anna Sewell, “Earlshall”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, page 105

3. intransitiveTo be in dread, or great fear.

   Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 1:29

4. transitiveTo style (the hair) into dreadlocks.

plural dreads

1. countableuncountableGreat fear in view of impending evil; fearful apprehension of danger; anticipatory terror.

   My visit to the doctor is filling me with dread.

   4 more examples

   the secret dread of divine displeasure

   1671, John Tillotson, “Sermon IV. The Advantages of Religion to Particular Persons. Psalm XIX. 11.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC

   the dread of something after death

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]

   They shared a common dread that he would begin moaning.

   1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “The Soldier in White”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 169

   In 1928 [Martin] Heidegger succeeded [Edmund] Husserl to take a chair at Freiburg and in his inaugural lecture made a pronouncement that earned him a reputation as an archetypal metaphysician with his claim that our awareness of people as a whole depends on our experience of dread in the face of nothingness.

   2014 April 12, Michael Inwood, “Martin Heidegger: the philosopher who fell for Hitler [print version: Hitler's philosopher]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review), London, page R11

2. countableuncountableReverential or respectful fear; awe.

   The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 9:2

   1 more example

   His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, / The attribute to awe and majesty, / Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

3. countableuncountableSomebody or something dreaded.
4. countableobsoleteuncountableA person highly revered.

   Una, his dear dread

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “(please specify the book)”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

5. countableobsoleteuncountableFury; dreadfulness.

   The mightie ones, affrayd of every chaunges dread

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

6. countableuncountableA Rastafarian.
7. abbreviationclippingcountablein pluralslanguncountableClipping of dreadlock.

   Jesus Christ had dreads / So shake 'em / I ain't got none / But I'm planning on growing some.

   2006, “Tell Me When To Go”, in Earl Stevens, Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels (lyrics), Lil Jon (music), My Ghetto Report Card

8. abbreviationclippingcountablehistoricalslanguncountablegovernmentClipping of dreadnought.

   The Royal Navy sent six dreads and four BCs to intercept the German raiding force.

comparative dreader · superlative dreadest

1. Terrible; greatly feared; dreaded.

   1980, Donald Fagen; Walter Becker (lyrics and music), "Glamour Profession" in Gaucho, track 3: "Jack with his radar / Stalking the dread moray eel"

   2 more examples

   With cat-like tread / Upon our prey we steal / In silence dread / Our cautious way we feel

   1879, Arthur Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance, Gilbert & Sullivan

   I even remember thinking that no human being would go down that dread path again.

   1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC

2. archaicAwe-inspiring; held in fearful awe.

   The acts made in the first Parliament of our most high and dread soveraigne Charles [I], by the grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. […] [book title]

   1633, John Hay, editor, The Acts Made in the First Parliament of our Most High and Dread Soveraigne Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.: Holden by Himselfe, Present in Person, with His Three Estates, at Edinburgh, upon the Twentie Eight Day of Iune, Anno Domini 1633, Edinburgh: Printed by Robert Young, printer to the Kings most excellent Maiestie, →OCLC