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单词 awful
释义

awfuladj.adv.

Brit. /ˈɔːf(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /ˈɔf(ə)l/, /ˈɑf(ə)l/
Forms: early Middle English aȝhefull ( Ormulum), early Middle English ahefull, Middle English agheful, Middle English aghful, Middle English aȝefullest (comparative), Middle English auful, Middle English–1700s awefull, Middle English–1700s awfull, 1500s ofull, 1500s–1600s auful, 1500s–1600s aufull, 1500s– aweful (in later use rare and archaic), 1500s– awful, 1700s–1800s aughful; also Scottish pre-1700 auchful, pre-1700 auchtful, pre-1700 auchtfull, pre-1700 auful, pre-1700 aufull, pre-1700 awful, pre-1700 awfule, pre-1700 awfull, pre-1700 awfulle; N.E.D (1885) also records a form Middle English aghfull. See awfy adv., awfy adj., and orful adj. and adv.
Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: awe n.1, -ful suffix.
Etymology: < awe n.1 + -ful suffix. Compare earlier eyeful adj.1 and eyesful adj.The comparative and superlative are typically formed with more and most, respectively, but the forms awfuller and awfullest are also used.
A. adj.
I. Arousing or inspiring awe. Later also in weaker or more general use: very bad or unpleasant, and related senses.
1.
a. That inspires or instils fear, terror, or dread; terrible, dreadful; (from the 18th century often) extremely shocking or distressing; horrific.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [adjective]
eislichc888
eyesfulOE
awfulc1175
smarta1200
ferlya1225
sternc1275
grisea1300
uglya1300
dreadfula1325
fell?c1335
stout1338
perilousc1380
terriblec1400
ghastfulc1449
timorous1455
epouventable1477
bedreadc1485
dreadablec1490
dreadc1540
buggisha1555
dreaded1556
monster-like1561
dire1567
scareful1567
terrifying1577
scary1582
direful1583
affrighting1592
dismal1594
affrightful1603
diral1606
tirable1607
frighting1619
scaring1641
affrighteninga1651
formidolous1656
terrific1667
terrifical1677
atrocious1733
terrorful1789
orful1845
lurid1850
terrorsome1890
turble1893
timorsome1894
like the wrath of God1936
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of being awesome > [adjective]
awfulc1175
grureful?c1225
fearful1340
ferdfulc1380
grisleda1400
dread1420
dreaded1556
tremblable1560
gruesome1570
awesome1578
tremend1581
awing1589
tremendous1632
aweda1656
awous?1675
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7172 Þatt he be grimme. & aȝhefull. & braþ & tor to cwemenn.
a1250 Wohunge ure Lauerd in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 271 To fihte aȝaines alle þe ahefulle deueles.
c1475 Medit. Life & Passion of Christ (Rawl.) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 116 (MED) Als auful & grisly sal it be to þe ille.
1602 W. Warner Epitome Hist. Eng. in Albions Eng. (rev. ed.) 360 They reared thence vnto the Saxons such awefull armies.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 75 The other [scene] was awful, and full of Terror.
1822 Sat. Evening Post 23 Feb. 3/2 This intelligence is awful, but I hope it will prove not so bad as is reported.
a1855 H. Anderton Life & Poems (1868) 90 With long, snarling face and awful grimace, There growls a political patriot.
1945 W. S. Churchill Victory (1946) 156 The grim and awful cataclysm of war.
2014 New Yorker 29 Sept. 86/3 The grandchild's father is in prison, having committed awful crimes.
b. Not pleasant or desirable; disagreeable, objectionable; bad.Chiefly North American colloquial in early use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing apprehension or alarm > [adjective] > alarming
frightful1607
alarming1658
awful1809
1781 J. Turner Let. in M. Wells Triumph of Faith (1787) 174 The awful weather was a great affliction.
1809 T. G. Fessenden Pills 2 I fear our..nation Is in an awful situation.
1876 Canad. Monthly & National Rev. Aug. 158/1 ‘What an awful climate,’ they will say, ‘you have in Newfoundland; how can you live there with the sun in a continual fog?’
1920 D. H. Lawrence Lost Girl (1921) vi. 118 We only lived together for three years. But dear me! how awful it was!
1963 M. Drabble Summer Bird-cage (1967) vii. 99 He likes such awful people.
2016 K. Parks Lifeboat Clique xv. 236 I took a drink of the vile liquid, and it tasted awful.
c. Of a person: very unwell or troubled.Usually as the complement of feel, look, or sound, e.g. ‘I feel awful’, ‘you look awful’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > [adjective]
troubleda1325
troublyc1340
troublec1374
worried1559
betoiled1622
aerumnous1658
fidgety1736
fretful1737
fretted1756
tanglesome1823
awful1865
hincty1929
toey1930
to worry (oneself), be worried, sick1952
noodgy1969
1865 Merry & Wise Dec. 563 He thinks he's going to die, and I'm afraid so, too, for he's obliged to keep his bed, and he do look awful.
1945 N. Streatfeild Saplings (2002) xxxii. 201 She had been so happy and now she felt awful.
1962 S. Plath Jrnl. 7 May (2000) 643 I was feeling awful, with this crabby bacterial infection which made me want to rush out in agony to pee every few minutes.
2004 A. Levy Small Island xxvii. 285 Look at you—you're tired. You look awful.
d. Of very poor quality; very bad; rubbish, terrible.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > [adjective] > very
subter-superlative1655
terrible1775
third-rate1814
ternary1826
tenth-rate1834
No. Ten1880
tenth-remove1905
awful1916
raggedy1921
stinko1924
piss-poor1945
number ten1953
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > very great or extreme > specifically of something bad or reprobated
woefula1400
mortalc1425
preciousc1475
fine1559
trim1569
gay1581
unconscionable1590
pocky1601
abominable1612
fearful1634
handsome1638
plaguey1694
dreadful1700
awfy1724
murrain1728
diabolical1750
deuced1782
dire1836
sinful1863
sodding1881
blooming1882
flaming1895
ruddy1896
abysmal1904
awful1916
hellishing1927
right1958
steaming1962
schwag1993
1916 G. Saintsbury Peace of Augustans viii. 301 The awful doggerel and drivel which, with rare exceptions, the present war has produced.
1953 R. Lehmann Echoing Grove 13 Poor darling, she had such awful taste.
1991 Guardian 26 Feb. 27/8 The interviewee is bloody awful at this particular skill.
2018 Irish Times (Nexis) 18 Aug. 12 All teachers agree that this is a truly awful idea, but it still goes on.
2. Arousing or inspiring reverential respect, mixed with wonder or fear; awe-inspiring. Cf. awe n.1 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > awe, reverential wonder > [adjective]
grureful?c1225
fearful1340
ferdfulc1380
awfula1400
grisleda1400
gruesome1570
awesome1578
tremend1581
awed1591
tremendous1632
mystic1842
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > reverence > quality of inspiring reverence > [adjective] > worthy of or inspiring reverential fear
dreadfula1325
awfula1400
tremblable1560
awing1589
awous?1675
awe-inspiring1726
the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > splendour, magnificence, or pomp > [adjective] > imposing
menskful?c1225
solemnc1386
splendid1653
awfula1656
grand1678
imposing1783
grande dame1827
swanky1940
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7869 Dauid he was an aghful man, Ful rightwisli he regnd þan.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 16 Ane Emperoure þe aȝefullest þat euer armys hauntid, Þat was þe athill Alexsandire.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) v. i. 98 An awefull Princely Scepter. View more context for this quotation
a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) i. 11 Preaching..in the most awful Auditory of the University.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 169. ¶9 Cato's character..is rather awful than amiable.
1773 P. Brydone Tour Sicily & Malta I. x. 184 The sky was clear, and the immense vault of the heavens appeared in awful majesty and splendour.
1871 J. R. Macduff Memories of Patmos xix. 264 His truth, His awful holiness.
1922 Texas Rev. Apr. 234 This awful beauty, which pervades his death scene, comes from the courage..with which he views his approaching end.
2012 Star (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 3 Oct. 14 The judicial officers represented the full awful majesty of the law.
3. colloquial. In emphatic use. Cf. sense B.
a. Used to emphasize the extent or amount of something, esp. in an awful lot: a very large amount, a great deal.Originally with negative implications, but an awful lot is now also used neutrally and positively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adjective] > very great or extreme
strangec1380
overpassinga1382
passinga1387
most?c1430
extremec1460
horriblea1464
violenta1500
mainc1540
immortal?c1550
exquisite1552
sore1555
three-piled1598
thundering1618
devilish1639
shrewda1643
deadly1660
woundy1681
vast1696
monstrous1711
mortal1716
terrific1743
hell-fired1754
hellish1764
colossal1794
severe1805
awful1818
all-fired1829
terrible1829
quare and1847
ferocious1877
pluperfect1889
raging1889
giddy1896
utter1898
stiff1905
1818 J. Keats Let. 27 Apr. (1958) I. 273 It is an awful while since you have heard from me.
1845 R. Ford Hand-bk. Travellers in Spain I. i. 28 To what an awful extent the Spanish peasant..will consume garlic.
1877 R. H. Roberts Harry Holbrooke of Holbrooke Hall i. 17 He's got an awful lot of money, an awful lot of conceit, an awful lot of funk, and the best stud of horses in the shire.
1966 T. Benn Diary July in Out of Wilderness (1987) 462 It takes an awful time to unwind after a week's work and I have nightmares in which I am required to see General de Gaulle about the future of Concorde.
2018 @Miralasymph 29 Sept. in twitter.com (accessed 1 Oct. 2018) That's an awful lot of money for a drawing.
b. Used to emphasize something unpleasant or negative; ‘such a’, ‘an absolute’.
ΚΠ
1840 T. S. Fay Countess Ida I. xxxii. 257 ‘Good gracious, John,’ says she, ‘how can you be such an awful fool?’
1873 R. Broughton Nancy I. ii. 26 What an awful duffer I am!
1953 D. Thomas Let. 6 Apr. (1987) 886 I'm in an awful mess, as usual, and in a frightful flap about leaving.
1958 Visct. Montgomery Mem. (1961) 539 He must have found me an awful nuisance when he was Prime Minister.
2019 Racing Post (Nexis) 9 Apr. 3 It was an awful shame what happened.
c. Used to emphasize something enjoyable or positive; excellent, first-rate, tremendous.Now much less common than use in negative contexts (see sense A. 3b).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective]
faireOE
bremea1000
goodlyOE
goodfulc1275
noblec1300
pricec1300
specialc1325
gentlec1330
fine?c1335
singulara1340
thrivena1350
thriven and throa1350
gaya1375
properc1380
before-passinga1382
daintiful1393
principala1398
gradelya1400
burlyc1400
daintyc1400
thrivingc1400
voundec1400
virtuousc1425
hathelc1440
curiousc1475
singlerc1500
beautiful1502
rare?a1534
gallant1539
eximious1547
jolly1548
egregious?c1550
jellyc1560
goodlike1562
brawc1565
of worth1576
brave?1577
surprising1580
finger-licking1584
admirablea1586
excellinga1586
ambrosial1598
sublimated1603
excellent1604
valiant1604
fabulous1609
pure1609
starryc1610
topgallant1613
lovely1614
soaringa1616
twanging1616
preclarent1623
primea1637
prestantious1638
splendid1644
sterling1647
licking1648
spankinga1666
rattling1690
tearing1693
famous1695
capital1713
yrare1737
pure and —1742
daisy1757
immense1762
elegant1764
super-extra1774
trimming1778
grand1781
gallows1789
budgeree1793
crack1793
dandy1794
first rate1799
smick-smack1802
severe1805
neat1806
swell1810
stamming1814
divine1818
great1818
slap-up1823
slapping1825
high-grade1826
supernacular1828
heavenly1831
jam-up1832
slick1833
rip-roaring1834
boss1836
lummy1838
flash1840
slap1840
tall1840
high-graded1841
awful1843
way up1843
exalting1844
hot1845
ripsnorting1846
clipping1848
stupendous1848
stunning1849
raving1850
shrewd1851
jammy1853
slashing1854
rip-staving1856
ripping1858
screaming1859
up to dick1863
nifty1865
premier cru1866
slap-bang1866
clinking1868
marvellous1868
rorty1868
terrific1871
spiffing1872
all wool and a yard wide1882
gorgeous1883
nailing1883
stellar1883
gaudy1884
fizzing1885
réussi1885
ding-dong1887
jim-dandy1888
extra-special1889
yum-yum1890
out of sight1891
outasight1893
smooth1893
corking1895
large1895
super1895
hot dog1896
to die for1898
yummy1899
deevy1900
peachy1900
hi1901
v.g.1901
v.h.c.1901
divvy1903
doozy1903
game ball1905
goodo1905
bosker1906
crackerjack1910
smashinga1911
jake1914
keen1914
posh1914
bobby-dazzling1915
juicy1916
pie on1916
jakeloo1919
snodger1919
whizz-bang1920
wicked1920
four-star1921
wow1921
Rolls-Royce1922
whizz-bang1922
wizard1922
barry1923
nummy1923
ripe1923
shrieking1926
crazy1927
righteous1930
marvy1932
cool1933
plenty1933
brahmaa1935
smoking1934
solid1935
mellow1936
groovy1937
tough1937
bottler1938
fantastic1938
readyc1938
ridge1938
super-duper1938
extraordinaire1940
rumpty1940
sharp1940
dodger1941
grouse1941
perfecto1941
pipperoo1945
real gone1946
bosting1947
supersonic1947
whizzo1948
neato1951
peachy-keen1951
ridgey-dite1953
ridgy-didge1953
top1953
whizzing1953
badass1955
wild1955
belting1956
magic1956
bitching1957
swinging1958
ridiculous1959
a treat1959
fab1961
bad-assed1962
uptight1962
diggish1963
cracker1964
marv1964
radical1964
bakgat1965
unreal1965
pearly1966
together1968
safe1970
bad1971
brilliant1971
fabby1971
schmick1972
butt-kicking1973
ripper1973
Tiffany1973
bodacious1976
rad1976
kif1978
awesome1979
death1979
killer1979
fly1980
shiok1980
stonking1980
brill1981
dope1981
to die1982
mint1982
epic1983
kicking1983
fabbo1984
mega1985
ill1986
posho1989
pukka1991
lovely jubbly1992
awesomesauce2001
nang2002
bess2006
amazeballs2009
boasty2009
daebak2009
beaut2013
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > excellence > [adjective] > very excellent or first-rate
gildenc1225
prime1402
rare1483
grand1542
holy1599
pre-excelling1600
paregal1602
classic1604
of (the) first rate1650
solary1651
first rate1674
superb1720
tip-top1722
tip-top-gallant1730
swell1819
topping1822
of the first (also finest, best, etc.) water1826
No. 11829
brag1836
A11837
A No. 11838
number one1839
awful1843
bully1851
first class1852
class1867
champion1880
too1881
tipping1887
alpha plus1898
bonzer1898
grade A1911
gold star1917
world-ranking1921
five-star1936
too much1937
first line1938
vintage1939
supercolossal1947
top1953
alpha1958
fantabulous1959
beauty1963
supercool1965
world-class1967
primo1973
1843 ‘R. Carlton’ New Purchase I. xix. 182 Potpie is the favourite, and woodsmen sharp set are awful eaters.
1871 Judy 12 July 120/1 Had an awful lark last night.
1894 ‘A. Hope’ Dolly Dialogues ii. 11 Oh, that's Georgy Vane. She's awful fun.
1912 G. R. Chester Five Thousand an Hour ii. 19 I wasn't a star, but I was featured and was making an awful hit.
1992 P. McCabe Butcher Boy 28 Never mind us! We're an awful crowd!
II. Filled with or arising from awe.
4.
a. Characterized by or filled with a feeling of awe, dread, or deep reverence. Now archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of terror or horror > [adjective]
affrightOE
ofgrisea1200
adreadc1225
ofgasta1300
aghastc1300
dreadc1300
dreadfula1325
dreadya1325
forfrighteda1325
frightfula1325
gasta1382
dareda1400
aghasteda1425
mazed1493
awfula1522
agazed1557
flaited1565
terrifiedc1586
gastereda1644
scarified1895
the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective]
arghc885
unboldc897
bletheOE
feyOE
frightfula1325
fearedc1330
fearfulc1374
ferdfula1382
palea1393
ferdya1400
ghastful1422
tremblingc1430
timorousc1450
cremeuse1477
craintive1490
cocklea1500
sheepish?1518
awfula1522
meticulousc1540
timidc1550
sheepa1556
tremebundc1560
timorsomec1600
tremulous1611
pigeon-hearteda1625
affrightful1631
formidolous1656
pavid1656
timidous1658
unsupported1694
tender-nosed1700
scary1773
pippin-hearted1809
kitten-hearted1831
funky1835
misventurous1849
milksoppish1852
tender-footed1854
fearsome1863
scare1885
milksoppy1886
milksopping1888
cotton wool1909
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) ix. vi. l. 77 The tendir bestis, that for awfull feir Of hys presens dar nowder bleyt nor steir.
1576 G. Pettie Petite Pallace 1 In the Father is a certayne seuere loue..towardes the childe, the childe beareth a fearefull affection and awfull obedience towards the Father.
a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1604) sig. D4 Monarch of hell, vnder whose blacke suruey Great Potentates do kneele with awful feare.
1641 R. Stock Learned Comm. Malachy i. vi. 102 An awfull child will hardly be drawn..to do ought that his father hath..forbidden him.
1741 I. Watts Improvem. Mind (1811) i. xx. §36. 253 A weak and awful reverence for antiquity.
1879 G. MacDonald Sir Gibbie xii. 74 Gibbie sat calm, awe-ful..while the storm roared.
1980 Rocky Mountain Rev. Lang. & Lit. 34 219 Plato's great work was..given that awful respect habitually accorded to the ancients.
†b. Frightened or apprehensive of doing something. Obsolete.With to and an infinitive used to express the cause of fear or apprehension.
ΚΠ
1608 W. Wilkes 2nd Memento 16 So conscience the daughter of Religion, keepes them both, awefull to swarue from that which is right, & makes them diligent obseruers of all effectuall furtherances of the Churches peace.
1681 T. Manton 190 Serm. 119th Psalm in Wks. (1872) VII. 280 Careful to please God, and awe-ful to offend him.
†5. Demonstrating or indicative of profound reverence or respect; done or performed respectfully or with great reverence. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > reverence > [adjective] > full of reverential fear
dreadful?c1225
dreadlya1250
dreadya1325
awful1597
fearful1597
awesome1598
awed1607
awestruck1637
awe-stricken1796
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II iii. iii. 76 Howe dare thy ioynts forget To pay their awefull duety to our presence? View more context for this quotation
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 69 The whole swarme and company is kept in awfull order.
1699 J. H. tr. M.-C. d'Aulnoy Mem. Countess Dunois iv. 97 The love which he testifi'd for me was accompani'd with a charming respect and awful submission.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. l. 129 At an awful distance they cast away their garments.
1846 J. Keble Lyra Innocentium 2 Toward the East our awful greetings Are wafted.
1927 G. K. Chesterton Return Don Quixote x, in Coll. Wks. (1999) VIII. 148 For the present at least , the chronicler may well maintain an awful silence about what happened between the magistrate and the doctor.
B. adv.
regional and nonstandard. Very, extremely; = awfully adv. 3a.Recorded earliest as awfy adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > [adverb] > extremely or exceedingly
swithlyc888
micklelyeOE
swith971
hardOE
un-i-fohOE
sevenfoldlOE
unmeet?c1225
innerlyc1330
horribly1340
too1340
sore1474
horriblec1475
vehemently1483
outrageous1487
done?a1513
exquisite1529
strangely1532
exceeding1535
exceedingly1535
angardlyc1540
angerlyc1540
choicec1540
vengeable1542
vengeably?1550
extremelya1554
monstrous1569
thrice1579
amain1587
extremea1591
damnably1598
fellc1600
tyrannically1602
exquisitely1603
damnedly1607
preciously1607
damnablea1616
impensively1620
excellingly1621
main1632
fearful1634
vengeancelya1640
upsy1650
impensely1657
twadding1657
vastly1664
hideous1667
mainly1670
consumed1707
consumedly1707
outrageously1749
damned1757
nation1771
shockingly1777
deuced1779
darn1789
darned1807
felly1807
varsal1814
awful1816
awfy1816
frightfully1816
deucedly1819
dogged1819
awfully1820
gallowsa1823
shocking1831
tremendously1832
everlasting1833
terribly1833
fearfully1835
ripping1838
poison1840
thundering1853
frighteninglyc1854
raring1854
hell's own1863
goldarned1866
goddamned1870
doggone1871
acutely1872
whooping1874
stupidly1878
everlastingly1879
hideously1882
densely1883
storming1883
good and1885
thunderingly1885
crazy1887
tremendous1887
madly1888
goldarn1892
howling1895
murderously1916
rasted1919
goddam1921
bitchingly1923
Christly1923
bitching1929
falling-down1930
lousy1932
appallingly1937
stratospherically1941
Christ almighty1945
effing1945
focking1956
dagnab1961
drop-dead1980
hella1987
totes2006
1816 W. Scott Black Dwarf iii. in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. I. 23 Humphrey wasna that awfu' big in the bouk.
1832 J. Romilly Diary 24 June in Cambr. Diary (1967) 17 An awful bad sermon from Hudleston.
1866 A. Trollope Belton Estate III. x. 261 It is awful lonely here, too.
1876 ‘M. Twain’ Adventures Tom Sawyer ii. 30 You see, Aunt Polly's awful particular about this fence.
1937 J. Steinbeck Red Pony iii. 66 ‘It's a long time to wait,’ he said gently. ‘You'll get awful tired waiting.’
2012 J. Graves Bluegrass Bluesman vi. 64 Onstage, if you're lucky you'll get a Sony pencil mic. They work awful good.

Phrases

something awful: to an extreme or striking extent or degree; very much, thoroughly, totally. Cf. something rotten at rotten adj., n., and adv. Phrases 6, something adv. 2c.
ΚΠ
1885 J. Runciman Skippers & Shellbacks i. v. 58 Then another time, when I was goin' past the charthouse I sees him kneelin', and he groaned somethin' awful.
1898 G. B. Shaw You never can Tell in Plays Pleasant 211 Gentleman: Did you howl? The Young Lady: Oh, something awful.
1968 G. M. Williams From Scenes like These v. 121 Her father had once caught her with a boy at the back of their house and sworn at him something awful and given her a belting.
2000 Sunday Express (Nexis) 5 June Oh, give over the pair of you. My back's at it again somethin' awful.

Compounds

C1. Forming adjectives by combining with a noun + -ed, as in awful-eyed, etc., originally with the sense ‘that has a —— that inspires or arouses awe’, later with the sense ‘that has a bad or unpleasant —’.
ΚΠ
1647 H. More Philos. Poems Notes 147/2 Manly, and awfull-eyed Fortitude.
1868 R. Noel Beatrice 252 Madness, more awful-faced than all!
1916 Vassar Q. May 148 The first encounter with a large jewelled, awful-voiced woman was discouraging. Not for worlds would she have Her Little Precious exposed to the corrupting influences of other babies.
2019 @DoxsieKatrina 16 Mar. in twitter.com (accessed 21 May 2019) The day after 49 innocent people died b/c a shooter was afraid of declining birth rates, we were told white nationalism isn't on the rise & not to blame awful-mouthed conservatives.
C2. With present participles, forming adjectives in which awful expresses the complement of the underlying verb, as in awful-looking, awful-sounding, etc.Originally with reference to someone or something which inspires or is filled with awe; in later use with reference to something unpleasant or of poor quality.
ΚΠ
1808 Westm. Jrnl. 19–26 Mar. 1/3 The Danish islands, particularly Zealand with Copenhagen, ought immediately to be checked and awed, to prevent the consequences of this most awful-looking enterprise [sc. an invasion].
1839 J. F. Pennie Devoted One ii. iii. in Brit.'s Hist. Drama II. 157 His breath came like a furnace seven times heated, And o'er me waved his awful-sounding wings, That darkened sea and land with tenfold night!
1997 Icon Thoughtstyle Mag. Apr. 123/1 The porn peddler's mansion is awful-looking—over the top and in bad taste.
2016 New Straits Times (Malaysia) (Nexis) 19 May 14 I guess eating fresh fish beats having to down a spoonful of the awful tasting fish liver oil like what I did when I was a child.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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