fearful

comparative more fearful · superlative most fearful · alternative obsolete fearefull · alternative obsolete fearfull

1. Frightening; causing fear.

   Sirs, stop their mouths, let them not speak to me, But let them hear what fearful words I utter.

   c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

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   In the later Hebrew midrash Lilith is presented as the woman who knows how to recite the fearful name of God to work calamity; that this little girl cries out the fearful name of the sun god and thereby causes an earthquake would indicate that this girl is linked in the structure of the myth with Lilith.

   1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 184

2. Tending to fear; timid.

   a fearful boy

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   There can be few tautologies purer than the phrase "antisocial motoring". Nothing could be more antisocial than locking oneself into a steel box before hurtling down a Tarmac scar, cleaving urban and rural communities or unspoiled natural havens, past children held tight in the fearful grip of nervous parents while you fart toxic fumes in their general direction.

   2013 June 5, Ally Fogg, “How can you make driving more antisocial than it already is?”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 18 Mar 2017

3. datedTerrible; shockingly bad.

   "What an awful infliction for you, Max. You were always such an impulsive, reckless sort of fellow—never quiet. You must miss such a fearful lot."

   1914, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados

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   But every day after dinner, for an hour, we were all together, and then the Favourite and the rest of the Royal Hareem competed who should most beguile the leisure of the Serene Haroun reposing from the cares of State — which were generally, as in most affairs of State, of an arithmetical character, the Commander of the Faithful being a fearful boggler at a sum.

   1859, Charles Dickens, The Haunted House

4. archaicFrightened; filled with terror.

   Those two great champions did attonce pursew / The fearefull damzell with incessant payns […]

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

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   kings ſhall crouch vnto our conquering ſwords, And hoſtes of Souldiers ſtand amazd at vs, When with their fearfull tongues they ſhall confeſſe Theſe are the men that al the world admires,

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii

   Synonyms: frightened, timid, timorous

comparative more fearful · superlative most fearful · alternative obsolete fearefull · alternative obsolete fearfull

1. dialectalExtremely; fearfully.

   His Dardanelles expedition gave the Turk a fearful long start.

   2014, Michael Brock, Eleanor Brock, Margot Asquith's Great War Diary 1914-1916

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   “He is fearful handsome, as you know,” she said remorsefully, “you cannot imagine, Georgiana, the joy when I first fell in love with him.”

   2009, Juliette Shapiro, Mr. Darcy's Decision: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

   “It's a fearful strong charm needs dragon's blood,” he said plaintively.

   2014, Diana Wynne Jones, The Chrestomanci series