dreadn.
/drɛd/, U.S. /drɛd/ 1. Extreme fear; deep awe or reverence; apprehension or anxiety as to future events. Rarely in plural.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of terror or horror > [noun] > terror
grurec900
awec1175
dreadc1200
fearlaca1225
ferdc1330
ferdlac1340
gastnessc1374
tremorc1374
dreadnessa1400
ferdshipa1400
scarea1400
dreadfulnessc1440
raddourc1440
terrorc1480
cremeur1485
fearing1546
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > [noun] > accompanied by fear
feara1300
suspiciona1340
dreadc1400
suspectc1400
dreadourc1540
apprehensiona1616
the mind > emotion > fear > awe > [noun] > religious awe
dreadingc1175
fearc1400
dread1508
reverence1543
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > reverence > [noun] > reverential fear
dreadingc1175
devotion?c1225
trembling1303
awea1400
dread1508
awfulness1574
awedness1601
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 71 Forgetelnesse, nutelnesse, recheles, shamfastnesse, drede.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xiii. 9 Þai quoke for dred whare dred was noght.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 124 Bi cause of drede lest an hoot enpostyme schulde come.
1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. cc.iv The drede of god putteth awaye synne.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 199 They'l straight resume their wonted dreads.
1798 W. Wordsworth Peter Bell i. xlvii Suspicion ripened into dread.
1828 I. D'Israeli Comm. Life Charles I I. iv. 67 The dread of famine.
1895 J. Kidd Morality & Relig. iv. 164 Dread is the extreme of anxiety on account of possible danger.
2. A person or thing (to be) dreaded; an object or cause of fear, reverence, or awe; †a danger.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > [noun] > one who or that which inspires fear
eyeeOE
awea1325
dreadc1400
hideousc1420
scare1530
fear1535
fray-buga1555
dismayer1591
frightment1607
frighter?1611
affrighter1612
frightful1727
scarer1741
scare-sinner1765
scare-christian1772
scare-beggar1806
redoubtable1808
scare sleep1817
frightener1841
scare-bear1843
scare-bullfinch1849
scare-goose1887
ogreism1902
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > awe, reverential wonder > [noun] > object or cause of
dread1590
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being awesome > [noun] > object or cause inspiring awe
horriblec1540
dread1590
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 299 It is ful greet drede for to lete a child blood.
?1553 (c1501) G. Douglas Palice of Honour (London) ii. l. 1201 in Shorter Poems (1967) 78 He tald..Of Dianis bore in Callydon the dredis [1579 Edinb. dreidis].
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. vi. sig. E7v Vna his deare dreed.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1474 Shouting to behold Thir once great dread, captive, & blind before them. View more context for this quotation
1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. iv. 980 Then Euryclea thus. My dearest dread!
1844 E. B. Barrett Drama of Exile in Poems I. 49 To meet the spectral Dread.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 13 The wonder and dread of all neighbouring nations.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > of course, certainly [phrase]
to iwissea1000
mid iwissea1000
in wisc1000
to wis(se)c1000
without(en (any) weenc1175
sans fail1297
thereof no strife1297
but werea1300
forouten werea1300
out of werea1300
without werea1300
without deceit1303
for certainc1320
it is to wittingc1320
withouten carec1320
without nayc1330
without noc1330
without (but out of) dread1340
no doubtc1380
without distancec1390
no fresea1400
out of doubta1400
without doubta1400
for, (in, at obs.), of, to (a) certaintyc1400
withouten stance14..
hazel woods shakea1413
of, on, in warrantisec1440
sure enough?1440
without question?1440
wythout diswerec1440
without any dispayrec1470
for (also of) a surety?a1475
in (also for) surenessa1475
of certainc1485
without any (also all) naya1500
out of question?1526
past question?1526
for sure1534
what else1540
beyond (also out of, past, without) (all) peradventure1542
to be a bidden by1549
out of (also without) all cry1565
with a witness1579
upon my word1591
no question1594
out of all suspicion1600
for a certain1608
without scruple1612
to be sure1615
that's pos1710
in course1722
beyond (all) question1817
(and) no mistake1818
no two ways about it (also that)1818
of course1823
bien entendu1844
yessiree1846
you bet you1857
make no mistake1876
acourse1883
sans doute1890
how are you?1918
you bet your bippy1968
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 105 Hit ne is no drede þet ine þe zonge..þe ilke þet tekþ þe uoȝeles zynge, ne heþ uele notes sotiles and zuete.
c1386 G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale 809 To yow broghte I noght elles, out of drede, But feith and nakednesse and maydenhede.
c1440 Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. C.) 102 Þe tyme is nere withowten drede.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xiii. 137 Of that ye wold rowne, No drede.
1556 W. Lauder Compend. Tractate Dewtie of Kyngis sig. Bv Ȝe sall be plukkit, frome ȝour ryngis..withouttin dreid.
4.
a. Amongst Rastafarians: dread or fear of the Lord; also, more generally, a deep-rooted sense of alienation felt by Rastafarians towards contemporary society; extreme fear of something menacing or threatening.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > awe > [noun] > Rastafarian dread
dread1974
society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > separation or isolation > [noun] > alienation from society felt by Rastafarians
dread1974
1974 Cole & Anderson (title of song) Natty dread.
b. A Rastafarian, one who wears dreadlocks (often contemptuous).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > people with styles of hair > [noun] > with dreadlocks
dread1977
society > faith > sect > non-Christian religions > other non-Christian sects > Rastafarianism > [noun] > person
Rastafarian1935
Rastafarite1937
Rastaman1953
Rasta1958
locksman1960
Ras1960
ras1961
natty dread1974
natty1976
dread1977
1977 Observer 11 Dec. 4/7 A squat containing 15 young black men or ‘dreads’ and as many girls.
1978 S. Clarke New Planet 26 This was the dreaded place where Rastafarians and Dreads lived.
1983 N.Y. Times 8 Apr. c16/6 You can't walk far on lower Second Avenue without running into at least one crowd of ‘Dreads’.
c. (plural) Dreadlocks.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > styles of hair > [noun] > tresses or plaits
tracec1380
plight?1387
tressa1400
plexc1450
braid1530
tuck1532
buoy-rope1546
trammels1589
entrammelling1598
border1601
point1604
pleat?1606
trammelets1654
maze1657
brede1696
queue1724
pigtail?1725
tie1725
cue1731
tuck-up1749
tutulus1753
club1786
tail1799
French twist1850
Grecian plait1851
French plait1871
horse's tail1873
Gretchen braid, plait1890
shimada1910
ponytail1916
French braid1937
cane row1939
dreadlocks1960
French pleat1964
Tom Jones1964
corn row1971
dread1984
club-pigtail-
1984 Melody Maker 6 Oct. 15/1 The Rasta leaps in the air and tosses his dreads, loosely braided at the back, over his head in a lash of black catkins.
d. attributive or as adj. (esp. expressing extreme approval, dislike, etc.).
ΚΠ
1976 A. Boot & M. Thomas Jamaica 44/1 That makes you a dread man, if you've got a gun.
Draft additions 1993
4. A sudden take-off and flight of a flock of gulls or other birds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > flight > [noun] > rising from ground
sourcec1384
at souse1486
mount1486
launch1835–6
dread1965
1965 Ulster Folklife XI. 102 The unaccountable corporate flight of nesting colonies of terns and gulls is a ‘dread’.
1983 S. Cramp et al. Handbk. Birds Europe, Middle East & N. Afr. (1985) III. 578/1 Flocks [of wood sandpiper] often excitable, noisy, and given to dreads.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† dreadadj.1
/drɛd/, U.S. /drɛd/ Obsolete.
Afraid, frightened, terrified.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of terror or horror > [adjective]
affrightOE
ofgrisea1200
adreadc1225
ofgasta1300
aghastc1300
dreadc1300
dreadfula1325
dreadya1325
forfrighteda1325
frightfula1325
gasta1382
dareda1400
aghasteda1425
mazed1493
awfula1522
agazed1557
flaited1565
terrifiedc1586
gastereda1644
scarified1895
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 1669 Hauelok..was..ful sore drad, With him to ete, for hise wif.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xvii. 310 Of deþ ne of derþe drad was he neuere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 6260 For pharao was he not drad.
a1400–50 Alexander 2489 Þan was ser Darius dred.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 5739 Theues war dred of Cuthberts wrake.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
dreadadj.2
/drɛd/, U.S. /drɛd/ 1. Feared greatly; hence, to be feared; dreadful, terrible.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [adjective]
eislichc888
eyesfulOE
awfulc1175
smarta1200
ferlya1225
sternc1275
grisea1300
uglya1300
dreadfula1325
fell?c1335
stout1338
perilousc1380
terriblec1400
ghastfulc1449
timorous1455
epouventable1477
bedreadc1485
dreadablec1490
dreadc1540
buggisha1555
dreaded1556
monster-like1561
dire1567
scareful1567
terrifying1577
scary1582
direful1583
affrighting1592
dismal1594
affrightful1603
diral1606
tirable1607
frighting1619
scaring1641
affrighteninga1651
formidolous1656
terrific1667
terrifical1677
atrocious1733
terrorful1789
orful1845
lurid1850
terrorsome1890
turble1893
timorsome1894
like the wrath of God1936
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 166 A derfe dragon, drede to be-holde.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 207 And make..his dread Trident shake. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 969 Death or aught then Death more dread . View more context for this quotation
1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel vi. xxxii. 193 When louder yet, and yet more dread, Swells the high trump that wakes the dead.
1853 F. W. Faber All for Jesus 378 A bondage dreader far than death.
1868 A. Helps Realmah I. ii. 29 I regard you with the same kind of dread that our friend Kingsley says savage men feel for savage women—a dread,..I must own I largely feel for civilized women.
2. Held in awe; awful; revered.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being awesome > [adjective]
awfulc1175
grureful?c1225
fearful1340
ferdfulc1380
grisleda1400
dread1420
dreaded1556
tremblable1560
gruesome1570
awesome1578
tremend1581
awing1589
tremendous1632
aweda1656
awous?1675
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > reverence > quality of inspiring reverence > [adjective] > worthy of or inspiring reverential fear > held in reverential fear
dreadlya1250
dread1420
dreaded1556
aweda1656
1420 in Rymer Foed. IX. 883/1 Moste Dredde Soverayne Lord.
1484 W. Caxton in tr. Ordre of Chyualry (1926) Epil. 125 My redoubted naturel and most dradde souerayne lord kyng Rychard.
1594 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 v. i. 17 A Messenger from our dread Lord.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 99 Th' important acting of your dread command. View more context for this quotation
1643 Pet. Gen. Assembly Kirk Scot. in Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion (1703) II. vi. 136 Suffer Us therefore, dread Soveraign, to renew our Petitions.
1755 E. Young Centaur i, in Wks. (1757) IV. 108 That dread being we dare oppose.
1834 E. Bulwer-Lytton Pilgrims of Rhine xix. 184 The dreadest ruler of the men of that distant age.
Compounds
Adverbially, as dread-dear, dread-desired, dread-sweet; parasynthetic, as dread-bolted.
ΚΠ
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Triumph of Faith in tr. Deuine Weekes & Wks. 577 That dread-desired Day.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 285 And in our face his dread-sweet face he seales.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xxi. 31 To stand against the deepe dread bolted thunder. View more context for this quotation
1613 J. Sylvester tr. H. Smith Micro-cosm. 7 Drad-dear Creator, new-create Thy Creature.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
dreadv.
/drɛd/, U.S. /drɛd/ 1. † b. to dread (dative infinitive): proper to dread, to be dreaded. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To fear greatly, be in mortal fear of; to regard with awe or reverence, venerate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > awe > be in awe of a person or thing [verb (transitive)]
dreadc1175
to stand awe ofc1300
shamec1384
redoubt?c1400
to stand in awe of1483
to be in awe of1553
tender1600
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > reverence > revere [verb (transitive)] > as something to be feared
dreadc1175
to stand awe ofc1300
awec1475
to stand in awe of1483
tender1600
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of terror or horror > be terrified of [verb (transitive)]
forfearc1175
agrisec1225
adoubtc1300
hidousc1380
dreadc1400
redoubt?c1400
bedoubt1470
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 21 Swilcne lauerd we aȝen to dreden. Þet is godalmihtin.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 14686 Nu wat i þatt tu drædesst godd.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 116 Þe ybernde uer dret.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) ix. 33 Þai drede noȝt þe sowdan ne nan oþer prince.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde ii. xxviii. 121 The thondre, whiche is moche to be doubted and drad.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A3 Nothing did he dread, but euer was ydrad.
1597 J. Payne Royall Exchange 35 Studieng no less to be..loved then to be dreade.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost i. 464 His Temple high..dreaded through the Coast Of Palestine. View more context for this quotation
1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 129 I love thee..dreaded as thou art!
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iii. §7. 148 The man whom Henry dreaded as the future champion of English freedom.
ΚΠ
a1300 Signs bef. Judgem. 16 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 8 No þing no man mai loke þat is so grisful forto drede.
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 5 It is to drede, þat..iuil comiþ to vs.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 272 Yai sall fer mar be..for to dreid.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxviii. 591 [A] knyghte..that in his life was more to drede than ony man alive.
2. † b. To be anxious about, to fear for. rare.† c. To doubt. Obsolete. rare.
a. To have a shrinking apprehension of; to look forward to with terror or anxiety: of future or unknown events. Often with infinitive or subordinate clause.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > expect [verb (transitive)] > with apprehension
dreada1225
doubt1509
suspect1509
fear1600
apprehenda1616
a1225 St. Marher. 5 Ne dredich na deð for to drehen for him.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7613 He dred his kingdom to lese.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) vi. l. 630 Wallace dredyt gyll.
1508 J. Fisher Treat. Penyt. Psalmes sig. cc.iii It is to be dredde lest ony preuy gyle or deceyte remayne styll in the soule.
1609 W. Shakespeare Sonnets xcvii. sig. G Leaues look pale, dreading the Winters neere. View more context for this quotation
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 733 I came, still dreading thy displeasure. View more context for this quotation
1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 203. ⁋3 We..dread their intrusion upon our minds, and fly from them as enemies.
1801 T. Moore Mem. (1853) I. 116 I sometimes dread that all is not right at home.
1802 H. Martin Helen of Glenross III. 26 I dread she is playing a dangerous fatal game.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice I. i. ix. 66 This next visit she dreaded more than she had any of the former ones.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > nervousness or uneasiness > be nervous or uneasy (about) [verb (transitive)]
dreada1547
a1547 Earl of Surrey tr. Virgil Certain Bks. Aenæis (1557) ii. sig. Div So much I dred my burden, and my feer [L. comitique onerique timentem].
1599 W. Shakespeare et al. Passionate Pilgrime (new ed.) sig. B How many tales to please me hath she coyned, Dreading my loue, the losse whereof still fearing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > doubt, be uncertain [verb (intransitive)]
tweonc897
to be at or in weeningc1275
doubtc1325
dreadc1400
vary1477
swither1535
stay1583
to have or make scruple of1600
demur1612
demurea1616
hesitate1623
Nicodemize1624
scruple1639
scrupulize1642
query1647
to make doubt1709
to have scruples1719
to have weres1768
mislippen1816
dubitate1837
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 96 If þat þou dredist wheþer þat it be a symple vlcus or a cankre and a foul, for þe signes..beþ doutis.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of terror or horror > be terrified [verb (intransitive)]
fordreadc1175
dreada1240
breec1375
tremblec1475
misdread1597
to sweat blood1924
a1240 Lofsung in Cott. Hom. 209 Ic..am on mest ifuled of sunne ase ich drede.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 15556 Swiðe heo gunnen dreden [c1300 Otho drede] of Cadwalanes deden.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. iii. 10 I dredde, there thurȝ that I was nakid.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 1810 Þai war ful dredand for [Fairf. of] þar lijf.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 87 Drede ȝe of the effect which bifille to Bohemers for lijk cause.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Eiv God..bad them to be strong and nat to drede.
1611 Bible (King James) 1 Chron. xxii. 13 Dread [1885 R.V. fear] not, nor be dismayed. View more context for this quotation
1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. II. 48 Their friends..began to dread for the consequences.
1840 J. H. Newman Lett. & Corr. (1891) II. 296 I dread about our Statutes.
a. reflexive. To fear, be afraid. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > be afraid [verb (reflexive)]
dreadc1175
agastc1300
ofdreadc1300
doubtc1330
fear1393
shitc1813
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 151 Ne dred te zacariȝe nohht.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3008 Al ðis sor Sag pharaun and dredde him ðor.
c1385 G. Chaucer Legend Good Women Lucrece. 1740 Drede the nat for I am here.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur xviii. xii I wold fayn do that myȝt please yow, but I drede me sore.
b. with subordinate clause. archaic.
ΚΠ
c1325 Poem Times Edw. II 374 in Pol. Songs (Camden) 340 I drede me that God us hath for-laft out of his hond.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3665 I drede me sare, for benison He sal me giue his malison.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. cxvii A felde the whiche he drade hym, might haue folowed if he had long taried.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 713 I dreid me sair I be begylit.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 174 I dread me, if I draw it, you will die.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > terrify [verb (transitive)]
afearOE
affrightOE
breec1000
offrightlOE
agastc1225
offearc1225
dreadc1250
agrisec1275
begallowc1320
ashunchc1325
adreadc1330
affrayc1330
fleya1400
grise1513
terrify1536
fray-bug1551
thunderbolta1586
fear-blast1593
gaster1593
hazen1593
terrorc1595
affrighten1615
ter-terrifya1618
flaite1642
pavefy1656
repall1687
hobgoblin1707
scarify1794
to scare the daylights out of1951
c1250 Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 32 Wat dret yw folk of litle beliaue?
14.. Prose Legends in Anglia VIII. 141 Þe sauours þat she myghte not suffir byfore, than dredde hir not a deel.
1587 M. Grove Pelops & Hippodamia (1878) 42 Which sight did much appall And dread the lookers on.
1617 J. Moore Mappe Mans Mortal. iii. iii. 201 A blazing Starre, that dreadeth the minde by presaging ruine.
1642 H. More Ψυχωδια Platonica sig. B5 O happy man that full perswasion had Of this! if right at home, nought of him were ydrad.
1681 R. Knox Hist. Relation Ceylon 169 The very thoughts of it would seem to dread me.
Compounds
dread-death, dread-devil adjs.
ΚΠ
1821 W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 8 Dec. 1399 A reader of old dread-death and dread-devil Johnson.
Derivatives
ˈdreaded adj.
ΚΠ
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie vii. 20 Dred, in dred of the dreddid, the dredder driues To Judge, more or lesse, as the dreddid contriues.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. x. sig. X4 My most dreaded Soueraigne.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. iii. 102 In the presence Of dreaded Iustice. View more context for this quotation
1863 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. Resid. Georgian Plantation 242 The dreaded rattlesnakes.
ˈdreading n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > awe > [noun] > religious awe
dreadingc1175
fearc1400
dread1508
reverence1543
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > reverence > [noun] > reverential fear
dreadingc1175
devotion?c1225
trembling1303
awea1400
dread1508
awfulness1574
awedness1601
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7185 He. dredinng. & aȝhe sette. Onn alle þa þatt lufenn toþþ.
a1325 Prose Psalter cx[i]. 9 Þe biginnyng of wisdome is dredyng of our Lord.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke xii. (R.) If ye shal vpon the dreading of man, grow cleane out of kinde from the sinceritee of preaching the ghospel.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.c1200
adj.1c1300
adj.21420v.c1175