/ˈɔːfl̩/, [ˈɔːfl̩], /aːfə(l)/
OriginFrom Middle English agheful, awfull, auful, aȝefull, equivalent to awe + -ful. Compare Old English eġeful, eġefull (“terrifying; awful”).
The “very bad” sense is a pejorative semantic shift from the original sense of “awe-inspiring”.
- Very bad.
“The smell of my socks is awful.”
“We saw such an awful film last night that we left the theater before the end.”
- Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively.
“an awful bonnet”
“I have learnt an awful amount today.”
“Shepard: You seem to know an awful lot about me.
Geth: Extranet data sources. Insecure broadcasts. All organic data sent out is received. We watch you.”
- datedCausing fear or horror; appalling, terrible.
“There was an air of gravity and importance about the garb of the person, and something indescribably odd, I might say awful, in the perfect, stonelike stillness of the figure, that effectually checked”
“At our old pastimes in the hall
We gambol’d, making vain pretence
Of gladness, with an awful sense
Of one mute Shadow watching all.”
- archaicAwe-inspiring; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive.
“As I am seen could I but gaze on Thee / Awful in majesty and royal might”
“God ought not to be commixed in our actions, but with awful reverence, and an attention full of honour and respect.”
“And then she stopped, and stood as if in awe / (For sleep is awful)[…].”
- archaicStruck or filled with awe or reverence.
“She spoke about Mr. Pendennis (a worthy little gentleman enough, but there are others as good as he) with an awful reverence, as if he had been the Pope of Rome on his throne, and she a cardinal kneel”
- obsoleteTerror-stricken.
- colloquial, not-comparableAwfully; dreadfully; terribly.
“The race was run, and the dog ran "awful".”
- Canada, US, colloquial, not-comparableVery, extremely.
“That's an awful big house.”
“She seemed awful nice when I met her yesterday.”
“He was blubbering away something awful.”
Formsawfuller(comparative) · more awful(comparative) · awfullest(superlative) · most awful(superlative) · awfull(alternative, archaic) · aweful(alternative, obsolete) · awefull(alternative, obsolete)
Source: Wiktionary