awful

UK: ˈɔːf(ə)l | US: ˈɔːf(ə)l

Definition

  1. adj. extremely bad or unpleasant

  2. adj. inspiring fear or reverence (archaic)

  3. adj. very great or intense (informal, e.g., "an awful lot")

Structure
awe <fear/reverence>ful <adjective suffix>
Etymology

awful = awe<fear/reverence> + ful<adjective suffix>

  • awe: From Old English ege (fear, dread), later influenced by Old Norse agi (terror). Evolved to mean "reverential fear" in Middle English.
  • ful: A suffix from Old English -full (full of), used to form adjectives indicating abundance or quality.

Etymology Origin:
Originally, awful meant "inspiring awe" (14th century), reflecting a mix of fear and reverence. By the 18th century, it shifted toward negative connotations ("dreadful"), as awe itself lost its neutral/positive sense. The informal intensifier use ("very great") emerged in the 19th century, showcasing semantic weakening.

Examples

  1. The storm caused awful damage to the coastal town.

  2. She felt an awful sense of guilt after the argument.

  3. The movie was so awful that we left halfway through.

  4. He has an awful lot of books in his collection.

  5. (Archaic) The king's awful presence silenced the crowd.