I. adjective
also griz·zly ˈgrizlē, -li
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English grislic, from gris- (akin to Old English ā grīsan to shudder, fear) + -lic -ly; akin to Old High German grīsenlīh terrible, Middle Dutch & Middle Low German grīsen to shudder, and probably to Old English grēot sand, grit — more at grit
1.
a. : inspiring horror or intense fear : grim and ghastly
these strange and grisly events
broadly : harsh and forbidding
a grim grisly winter's night
b. : being such as to inspire distaste or disgust
a grisly account of the fire
2. : caused by what is grim or horrible or marked by a sense of grim horror
reason could not rid her of that grisly fear
II. adverb
( often -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from grisly, adjective
: dreadfully , terribly
III.
obsolete
variant of gristly
IV.
variant of grizzly