Definitions for: Dread


[n] fearful expectation or anticipation; "the student looked around the examination room with apprehension"
[v] be afraid or scared of; be frightened of; "I fear the winters in Moscow"; "We should not fear the Communists!"



Webster (1913) Definition: Dread, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dreaded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dreading.] [AS. dr?dan, in comp.; akin to OS. dr[=a]dan,
OHG. tr[=a]tan, both only in comp.]
To fear in a great degree; to regard, or look forward to,
with terrific apprehension.

When at length the moment dreaded through so many years
came close, the dark cloud passed away from Johnson's
mind. --Macaulay.


Dread, v. i.
To be in dread, or great fear.

Dread not, neither be afraid of them. --Deut. i. 29.


Dread, n.
1. Great fear in view of impending evil; fearful apprehension
of danger; anticipatory terror.

The secret dread of divine displeasure. --Tillotson.

The dread of something after death. --Shak.

2. Reverential or respectful fear; awe.

The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon
every beast of the earth. --Gen. ix. 2.

His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The
attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the
dread and fear of kings. --Shak.

3. An object of terrified apprehension.

4. A person highly revered. [Obs.] ``Una, his dear dread.''
--Spenser.

5. Fury; dreadfulness. [Obs.] --Spenser.

6. Doubt; as, out of dread. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Syn: Awe; fear; affright; terror; horror; dismay;
apprehension. See Reverence.


Dread, a.
1. Exciting great fear or apprehension; causing terror;
frightful; dreadful.

A dread eternity! how surely mine. --Young.

2. Inspiring with reverential fear; awful' venerable; as,
dread sovereign; dread majesty; dread tribunal.

Synonyms: apprehension, apprehensiveness, fear

See Also: boding, chill, fear, fearfulness, foreboding, fright, gloom, gloominess, pall, panic, premonition, presentiment, somberness, suspense, trepidation

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