dread
verbnounadjectiveattested in dialogue
- //dɹɛd//
To fear greatly.
verb
- 1
To fear greatly.
- 2
To anticipate with fear.
I'm dreading getting the results of the test, as it could decide my whole life.
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.
- 3
To be in dread, or great fear.
Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
- 4
To style (the hair) into dreadlocks.
Etymology
From Middle English dreden, from Old English drǣdan (“to fear, dread”), aphetic form of ondrǣdan (“to fear, dread”), from Proto-West Germanic *andarādan, equivalent to Old English and- + rǣdan (whence read); corresponding to an aphesis of earlier adread. Akin to Old Saxon antdrādan, andrādan (“to fear, dread”), Old High German intrātan (“to fear”), Middle High German entrāten (“to fear, dread, frighten”).
noun
- 1
Great fear in view of impending evil; fearful apprehension of danger; anticipatory terror.
My visit to the doctor is filling me with dread.
the secret dread of divine displeasure
the dread of something after death
They shared a common dread that he would begin moaning.
- 2
Reverential or respectful fear; awe.
The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth.
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, / The attribute to awe and majesty, / Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings.
- 3
Somebody or something dreaded.
- 4
obsoleteA person highly revered.
Una, his dear dread
- 5
obsoleteFury; dreadfulness.
The mightie ones, affrayd of every chaunges dread
- 6
A Rastafarian.
- 7
Variant of dreadlockslangClipping of dreadlock.
Jesus Christ had dreads / So shake 'em / I ain't got none / But I'm planning on growing some.
- 8
Variant of dreadnoughthistoricalClipping of dreadnought.
The Royal Navy sent six dreads and four BCs to intercept the German raiding force.
Etymology
From Middle English drede, dred, from the verb (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian drēd, drēde (“fear, dread”).
adjective
- 1
Terrible; greatly feared; dreaded.
With cat-like tread / Upon our prey we steal / In silence dread / Our cautious way we feel
I even remember thinking that no human being would go down that dread path again.
1980, Donald Fagen; Walter Becker (lyrics and music), "Glamour Profession" in Gaucho, track 3: "Jack with his radar / Stalking the dread moray eel"
- 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]
Etymology
From Middle English drede, dredde, dradde, ydreddyd (“feared, dreaded, honoured”), past participle of Middle English dreden (“to fear, dread”). See above.
Forms
- plural
- dreads
- comparative
- dreader
- superlative
- dreadest
- past tense
- dreaded
- past participle
- dreaded
- present participle
- dreading
- third person singular
- dreads