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adjective
1.
extremely bad; unpleasant; ugly: awful paintings; an awful job.
2.
inspiring fear; dreadful; terrible: an awful noise.
3.
solemnly impressive; inspiring awe: the awful majesty of alpine peaks.
4.
full of awe; reverential.
5.
extremely dangerous, risky, injurious, etc.: That was an awful fall she had. He took an awful chance by driving here so fast.
adverb
6.
Informal. very; extremely: He did an awful good job of painting the barn. It's awful hot in here.
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Awful
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
Origin:
1200–50; Middle English a(g)heful, aueful; see awe, -ful; replacing Old English egefull dreadful
1200–50; Middle English a(g)heful, aueful; see awe, -ful; replacing Old English egefull dreadful
Related forms
aw·ful·ness, noun
qua·si-aw·ful, adjective
qua·si-aw·ful·ly, adverb
un·aw·ful, adjective
un·aw·ful·ness, noun
Usage note
Although some object to any use of awful or awfully in any sense not connected with a feeling of awe, both have been used in other senses for several centuries. Awful and awfully as adverbial intensifiers—awful(ly)hot; awful(ly)cold—appear in the early 19th century, following much the same pattern as horribly anddreadfully. As an adverb awful is less formal in tone than awfully. EXPANDIn the sense “inspiring awe or fear” awesome has largely replaced awful.
COLLAPSE
Although some object to any use of awful or awfully in any sense not connected with a feeling of awe, both have been used in other senses for several centuries. Awful and awfully as adverbial intensifiers—awful(ly)hot; awful(ly)cold—appear in the early 19th century, following much the same pattern as horribly anddreadfully. As an adverb awful is less formal in tone than awfully. EXPANDIn the sense “inspiring awe or fear” awesome has largely replaced awful.
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To awful
Example Sentences
- Everything was quiet except for the awful spoon against the awful pot.
- The tastes of the viewing public is just disgraceful with all the awful, awful reality shows that get higher ratings.
- His eyes were awful, all lit up and burning.
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
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