• Dread

    Pronunciation

    • enPR: drÄ•d, IPA: /drÉ›d/
    • Rhymes: -É›d

    Origin

    Middle English dreden, from Old English drǣdan ("to fear, caution against"), aphetic form of ādrǣdan, ondrǣdan ("to advise or counsel against"); compare with Dutch ontraden ("to advise or counsel against"), from and- ("against") + rǣdan ("to counsel, advise"). Akin to Old High German intrātan ("to fear"). More at read.

    Full definition of dread

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To fear greatly.
    2. To anticipate with fear.I'm dreading getting the results of the test, as it could decide my whole life.
    3. (intransitive) To be in dread, or great fear.
      • Bible, Deuteronomy i. 29Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

    Noun

    dread

    (plural dreads)
    1. Great fear in view of impending evil; fearful apprehension of danger; anticipatory terror.
      • Tillotsonthe secret dread of divine displeasure
      • Shakespearethe dread of something after death
    2. Reverential or respectful fear; awe.
      • Bible, Genesis ix 2.The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth.
      • ShakespeareHis 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. (obsolete) A person highly revered.
      • SpenserUna, his dear dread
    5. (obsolete) Fury; dreadfulness.
    6. A Rastafarian.
    7. (chiefly in the plural) dreadlock

    Adjective

    dread

    1. Terrible; greatly feared.
    2. (archaic) Awe-inspiring; held in fearful awe.
    © Wiktionary