[dread.ful] adj (13c) 1 a: inspiring dread: causing great and oppressive fear b: inspiring awe or reverence
2: extremely bad, distasteful, unpleasant, or shocking
3: extreme "~ disorder" -- dread.ful.ly adv -- dread.ful.ness n
[2]dreadful n (1873): a cheap and sensational story or periodical