ˈbālfəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bealuful, baluful, from bealu, balu bale + -ful — more at bale
1. : marked by a deadly, malign, or pernicious influence or effect : maleficent
the baleful arts of sorcerers — J.G.Frazer
their pale and ghastly features, more ghastly in that baleful and malignant light — T.L.Peacock
the grating supervision of one particularly baleful sergeant — Byron Bentley
2. : foreboding evil : ominous
the … company, despite the baleful economic outlook, decided to seek national distribution of its products — D.C.Morrill
a man full of gloom and baleful predictions
• bale·ful·ly -fəlē, -li adverb
• bale·ful·ness noun -es