adj.
Pronunciation: ' griz-l ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: gris · li · er ; -est
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English grislic, from gris- (akin to Old English ā gr ī san to fear); akin to Old High German gr ī senl ī h terrible
Date: 12th century
1 : inspiring horror or intense fear <houses that were dark and grisly under the blank, cold sky ― D. H. Lawrence>
2 : inspiring disgust or distaste <a grisly account of the fire>
synonyms see GHASTLY
– gris · li · ness noun