v. t. & i. [ AS. andrædan, ondræ; pref. a- (for and against) + dræden to dread. See Dread. ] To dread. [ Obs. ] Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dreaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Dreading. ] [ AS. dr&aemacr_;dan, in comp.; akin to OS. drādan, OHG. trātan, both only in comp. ] To fear in a great degree; to regard, or look forward to, with terrific apprehension. [ 1913 Webster ]

When at length the moment dreaded through so many years came close, the dark cloud passed away from Johnson's mind. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Exciting great fear or apprehension; causing terror; frightful; dreadful. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dread eternity! how surely mine. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Inspiring with reverential fear; awful' venerable; as, dread sovereign; dread majesty; dread tribunal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Great fear in view of impending evil; fearful apprehension of danger; anticipatory terror. [ 1913 Webster ]

The secret dread of divine displeasure. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dread of something after death. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Reverential or respectful fear; awe. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth. Gen. ix. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

His scepter shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An object of terrified apprehension. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A person highly revered. [ Obs. ] “Una, his dear dread.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Fury; dreadfulness. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

Syn. -- Awe; fear; affright; terror; horror; dismay; apprehension. See Reverence. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be in dread, or great fear. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dread not, neither be afraid of them. Deut. i. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Worthy of being dreaded. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Armed with dreaded bolts. “Dread-bolted thunder.” [ Poetic ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who fears, or lives in fear. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Full of dread or terror; fearful. [ Obs. ] “With dreadful heart.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Inspiring dread; impressing great fear; fearful; terrible; as, a dreadful storm. “ Dreadful gloom.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

For all things are less dreadful than they seem. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Inspiring awe or reverence; awful. [ Obs. ] “God's dreadful law.” Shak.

Syn. -- Fearful; frightful; terrific; terrible; horrible; horrid; formidable; tremendous; awful; venerable. See Frightful. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a dreadful manner; terribly. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being dreadful. [ 1913 Webster ]