from
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
dreaded
adj 1: causing fear or dread or terror; "the awful war"; "an
awful risk"; "dire news"; "a career or vengeance so
direful that London was shocked"; "the dread presence of
the headmaster"; "polio is no longer the dreaded disease
it once was"; "a dreadful storm"; "a fearful howling";
"horrendous explosions shook the city"; "a terrible
curse" [syn: {awful}, {dire}, {direful}, {dread(a)},
{dreaded}, {dreadful}, {fearful}, {fearsome},
{frightening}, {horrendous}, {horrific}, {terrible}]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Dread \Dread\ (dr[e^]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dreaded}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Dreading}.] [AS. dr[=ae]dan, in comp.; akin to OS.
dr[=a]dan, OHG. tr[=a]tan, both only in comp.]
To fear in a great degree; to regard, or look forward to,
with terrific apprehension.
[1913 Webster]
When at length the moment dreaded through so many years
came close, the dark cloud passed away from Johnson's
mind. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]