I. ˈdred verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English dreden, from Old English drǣdan; akin to Old Saxon ant drādan to fear, dread, Old High German in trātan
transitive verb
1.
a. : to fear greatly : be in terror of
a burned child dreads the fire
b. archaic : to stand in awe of : reverence
2. : to anticipate with fear of evil, pain, or trouble : look forward to with apprehensiveness : feel great anxiety about
they dread change, lest it should make matters worse — G.B.Shaw
intransitive verb
: to be very apprehensive or fearful
dread not, neither be afraid of them — Deut 1:29 (Authorized Version)
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English drede, dred, from dreden, v.
1.
a. : great fear especially in the face of impending evil : fearful apprehension of danger : anticipatory terror
looked forward with dread to the night alone in the dark farmhouse — Sherwood Anderson
dread of insecurity
b. archaic : reverential or respectful fear : awe
2. : a person or thing regarded with fear or awe
the days of wooden ships and wooden homes, when fire was an omnipresent dread — F.W.Saunders
3.
[translation of Danish & German angst ]
: anxiety 3
Synonyms: see fear
III. adjective
Etymology: Middle English dred, from past participle of dreden, v.
1. : causing great fear or apprehensiveness : frightening
dread “secret” weapons which are evaluated solely by their capacity to kill — B.M.Baruch
a dread disease
2. : inspiring reverential fear or awe
most dread lord
• dread·ly adverb