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awful

 - 3 dictionary results

aw⋅ful

  [aw-fuhl]
Use awful in a Sentence
–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.
Origin:
1200–50; ME a(g)heful, aueful; see awe, -ful; r. OE egefull dreadful

Related forms:
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. In the sense “inspiring awe or fear” awesome has largely replaced awful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To awful
aw·ful   (ô'fəl)   
adj.  

  1. Extremely bad or unpleasant; terrible: had an awful day at the office.

  2. Commanding awe: "this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seem to speak of some hidden soul beneath" (Herman Melville).

  3. Filled with awe, especially:

    1. Filled with or displaying great reverence.

    2. Obsolete Afraid.

  4. Formidable in nature or extent: an awful burden; an awful risk.

adv.   Informal
Extremely; very: was awful sick.

[Middle English aweful, awe-inspiring, blend of awe, awe; see awe, and *ayfull, awful (from Old English egefull : ege, dread + -full, -ful).]
aw'ful·ly adv., aw'ful·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

awful 
c.1300, agheful, from aghe, an earlier form of awe. Replaced O.E. egefull. Slang intensive use of awful "exceedingly" is from 1818.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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