FRIGHTFUL • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Frightful

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/frˈaɪtfəl/ Listen

adjective

Frightful adj.

Full of fright; affrighted; frightened. (Obs.) "See how the frightful herds run from the wood."

Full of that which causes fright; exciting alarm; impressing terror; shocking; as, a frightful chasm, or tempest; a frightful appearance.

Synonyms: Terrible; dreadful; alarming; fearful; terrific; awful; horrid; horrible; shocking. Frightful, Dreadful, Awful. These words all express fear. In frightful, it is a sudden emotion; in dreadful, it is deeper and more prolonged; in awful, the fear is mingled with the emotion of awe, which subdues us before the presence of some invisible power. An accident may be frightful; the approach of death is dreadful to most men; the convulsions of the earthquake are awful.

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Etymology of 'Frightful'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Frightful" Quotes from Famous Books

... that frightful silence before she said: "I will go where you wish." And she said it in a tone which makes me wince as I recall ...

— Ainslee's, Vol. 15, No. 5, June 1905 • Various

... looked, as well you might, heart-broken at such words from your only child. You took her away; and when you came back, you cried, and said you had whipped her severely, and you did not know what you should do with a child of such a frightful temper. ...

— Bits About Home Matters • Helen Hunt Jackson

... our country suffers from intemperance, nor wholly to clear myself from the guilt; for some of these men are my neighbors and personal friends, and I know them to be convinced that the excessive use of ardent spirits is a frightful evil among us, and that they would cheerfully join in some measures for its suppression, though not yet satisfied that those now in train are judicious or necessary. Not long ago, I was in essentially the same state of mind, and encouraged ...

— Select Temperance Tracts • American Tract Society

... word the fellow spoke was a frightful oath; for I took out my little pistol, which was full of shot, and fired it into his face. The man reeled, and I thought would have fallen out of his saddle. The postillion, frightened, no doubt, clapped spurs to his horse, and ...

— A Book of English Prose - Part II, Arranged for Secondary and High Schools • Percy Lubbock

... daughter. The marquise went to him. But now her face showed signs of the liveliest anxiety, and it was for M. d'Aubray to try to reassure her about himself! He thought it was only a trifling indisposition, and was not willing that a doctor should be disturbed. But then he was seized by a frightful vomiting, followed by such unendurable pain that he yielded to his daughter's entreaty that she should send for help. A doctor arrived at about eight o'clock in the morning, but by that time all that could have helped a scientific ...

— CELEBRATED CRIMES, COMPLETE - THE MARQUISE DE BRINVILLIERS • ALEXANDRE DUMAS, PERE

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