Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
dread [dred] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin verb (used with object)
- to fear greatly; be in extreme apprehension of: to dread death.
- to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience: I dread going to big parties.
- Archaic. to hold in respectful awe.
verb (used without object)
- to be in great fear.
noun
- terror or apprehension as to something in the future; great fear.
- a person or thing dreaded.
- dreads, Informal. dreadlocks.
- Informal. a person who wears dreadlocks.w
- Archaic. deep awe or reverence.
adjective
- greatly feared; frightful; terrible.
- held in awe or reverential fear.
Origin of dread 1125–75; Middle English dreden (v.), Old English drǣdan, aphetic variant of adrǣdan, ondrǣdan; cognate with Old High German intrātan to fearRelated formsdread·a·ble, adjectivedread·ness, nounpre·dread, noun, verb (used with object)un·dread·ed, adjectiveun·dread·ing, adjectiveSynonyms for dread 5. See fear. 10. dire, dreadful, horrible.Antonyms for dread 1. welcome. Related Words for dreads dismay, phobia, consternation, apprehension, horror, trepidation, terror, awe, panic, alarming, frightening, fright, alarm, affright, jitters, aversion, funk, creeps, worriment, apprehend Examples from the Web for dreads Contemporary Examples of dreads
It prefers this to what it dreads: a pro-India regime on its western border.
America’s Pakistan Mess Gets Worse With Alleged NATO Strike
Bruce Riedel
November 27, 2011
What Greenblatt dreads is the decline of literacy, the disappearance of texts, the narrowing of expression.
The Book That Changed the World
Jimmy So
October 7, 2011
Katie, an ophthalmologist who prefers that we not use her last name, dreads asking patients about any problem involving tearing.
Beth Landman
March 27, 2009
Historical Examples of dreads
In dealing with your daily dreads you simply counted God out.
Basil King
A chimney was standing, and I must have clung to it with all my strength, like an animal that dreads death.
Emile Zola
She dreads—she ‘s not so wrong there—she dreads leaving everything in my power.
Sir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume II.
Charles James Lever
“And thus he dreads and hates you,” said she, fixing her dark eyes sternly on me.
Charles James Lever
Let him not insult her by the doubt that she dreads poverty or long delay.
Dinah Maria Craik, (AKA Dinah Maria Mulock)
British Dictionary definitions for dreads dread verb (tr)
- to anticipate with apprehension or terror
- to fear greatly
- archaic to be in awe of
noun
- great fear; horror
- an object of terror
- slang a Rastafarian
- archaic deep reverence
adjective
- literary awesome; awe-inspiring
Word Origin for dread Old English ondrǣdan; related to Old Saxon antdrādan, Old High German intrātan Word Origin and History for dreads n.
see dreadlocks.
dread v.
late 12c., a shortening of Old English adrædan, contraction of ondrædan “counsel or advise against,” also “to dread, fear, be afraid,” from on- “against” + rædan “to advise” (see read (v.)). Cognate of Old Saxon andradon, Old High German intraten. Related: Dreaded; dreading. As a noun from 12c.