dread
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Middle English dreden, from Old English drǣdan (“to fear, caution against”), aphetic form of ādrǣdan, ondrǣdan (“to advise or counsel against”), from and- (“against”) + rǣdan (“to counsel, advise”). Akin to Old High German intrātan (“to fear”). More at read.
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Verb
dread (third-person singular simple present dreads, present participle dreading, simple past and past participle dreaded)
- To fear greatly.
- To anticipate with fear.
- I'm dreading getting the results of the test, as it could decide my whole life.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
to fear greatly
to anticipate with fear
[edit] Noun
dread (plural dreads)
- A great fear.
- Somebody or something dreaded.
- A Rastafarian.
- (chiefly plural) dreadlock
[edit] Translations
great fear
somebody or something dreaded
[edit] Adjective
dread (comparative dreader, superlative most dread)
- Terrible; greatly feared.
- (archaic) Awe-inspiring; held in fearful awe.
