Word Study
dread
OXFORD DICTIONARY
dread, v., n., & adj.
--v.tr.
1 (foll. by that, or to + infin.) fear greatly.
2 shrink from; look forward to with great apprehension.
3 be in great fear of.
--n.
1 great fear, apprehension, awe.
2 an object of fear or awe.
--adj.
1 dreaded.
2 archaic awe-inspiring, revered.
--v.tr.
1 (foll. by that, or to + infin.) fear greatly.
2 shrink from; look forward to with great apprehension.
3 be in great fear of.
--n.
1 great fear, apprehension, awe.
2 an object of fear or awe.
--adj.
1 dreaded.
2 archaic awe-inspiring, revered.
Etymology
OE adr{aelig}dan, ondr{aelig}dan
THESAURUS
dread
abject fear, affright, agitation, alarm, all-overs, angst, anguish, anticipate, anticipation, anxiety, anxiety hysteria, anxiety neurosis, anxious bench, anxious concern, anxious seat, anxiousness, appalling, apprehend, apprehension, apprehensiveness, astounding, aversion, awe, awe-inspiring, awesome, awful, be afraid, blue funk, boredom, cankerworm of care, care, cheerlessness, cliff-hanging, cold feet, concern, concernment, consternation, contemplate, cowardice, dire, direful, discomfort, discomposure, discontent, dislike, dismay, displeasure, disquiet, disquietude, dissatisfaction, distress, disturbance, dreaded, dreadful, dullness, emptiness, ennui, envisage, existential woe, expect, expectant waiting, eye askance, face, fear, feared, fearfulness, fell, flatness, flinch, foreboding, forebodingness, foresee, formidable, fright, funk, ghastly, ghoulish, grim, grimness, grisly, gruesome, have in mind, have qualms, hideous, hope, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrific, horrification, horrifying, horror, inquietude, joylessness, lack of pleasure, macabre, malaise, misgive, misgiving, morbid, nausea, nervous strain, nervous tension, nervousness, nongratification, nonsatisfaction, overanxiety, painfulness, panic, panic fear, perturbation, pessimism, phobia, pins and needles, presume, pucker, qualm, queasiness, redoubtable, savorlessness, scare, schrecklich, shocking, shrink from, sit upon thorns, solicitude, spleen, staleness, stampede, stand aghast, stew, strain, suspense, take for granted, tastelessness, tediousness, tedium, tension, terrible, terrific, terrifying, terror, the heebie-jeebies, think, tremendous, trepidation, trepidity, trouble, uncertainty, uncomfortableness, unease, uneasiness, unhappiness, unholy dread, unpleasure, unquietness, unsatisfaction, upset, vexation, vexation of spirit, waiting, worry, zealROGET THESAURUS
dread
Fear
N fear, timidity, diffidence, want of confidence, apprehensiveness, fearfulness, solicitude, anxiety, care, apprehension, misgiving, feeze, mistrust, suspicion, qualm, hesitation, nervousness, restlessness, inquietude, disquietude, worry, concern, batophobia, heartquake, flutter, trepidation, fear and trembling, perturbation, tremor, quivering, shaking, trembling, throbbing heart, palpitation, ague fit, cold sweat, abject fear, mortal funk, heartsinking, despondency, despair, fright, affright, affrightment, boof alarm, dread, awe, terror, horror, dismay, consternation, panic, scare, stampede (of horses), intimidation, terrorism, reign of terror, bug bear, bugaboo, scarecrow, hobgoblin, nightmare, Gorgon, mormo, ogre, Hurlothrumbo, raw head and bloody bones, fee-faw-fum, bete noire, enfant terrible, alarmist, fearing, frightened, in fear, in a fright, haunted with the fear of, afeard, afraid, fearful, timid, timorous, nervous, diffident, coy, faint- hearted, tremulous, shaky, afraid of one's shadow, apprehensive, restless, fidgety, more frightened than hurt, aghast, awe-stricken, horror-stricken, terror-stricken, panic- stricken, awestruck, awe-stricken, horror-struck, frightened to death, white as a sheet, pale, pale as a ghost, pale as death, pale as ashes, breathless, in hysterics, inspiring fear, alarming, formidable, redoubtable, perilous, portentous, fearful, dread, dreadful, fell, dire, direful, shocking, terrible, terrific, tremendous, horrid, horrible, horrific, ghastly, awful, awe-inspiring, revolting, Gorgonian, in terrorem, Int, angels and ministers of grace defend us!, ante tubam trepidat, horresco referens, one's heart failing one, obstupui steteruntque comae et vox faucibus haesit, a dagger of the mind, expertus metuit, fain would I climb but that I fear to fall, fear is the parent of cruelty, Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire, omnia tuta timens, our fears do make us traitors, fear, timidity, diffidence, want of confidence, apprehensiveness, fearfulness, solicitude, anxiety, care, apprehension, misgiving, feeze, mistrust, suspicion, qualm, hesitation, nervousness, restlessness, inquietude, disquietude, worry, concern, batophobia, heartquake, flutter, trepidation, fear and trembling, perturbation, tremor, quivering, shaking, trembling, throbbing heart, palpitation, ague fit, cold sweat, abject fear, mortal funk, heartsinking, despondency, despair, fright, affright, affrightment, boof alarm, dread, awe, terror, horror, dismay, consternation, panic, scare, stampede (of horses), intimidation, terrorism, reign of terror, bug bear, bugaboo, scarecrow, hobgoblin, nightmare, Gorgon, mormo, ogre, Hurlothrumbo, raw head and bloody bones, fee-faw-fum, bete noire, enfant terrible, alarmist, fearing, frightened, in fear, in a fright, haunted with the fear of, afeard, afraid, fearful, timid, timorous, nervous, diffident, coy, faint- hearted, tremulous, shaky, afraid of one's shadow, apprehensive, restless, fidgety, more frightened than hurt, aghast, awe-stricken, horror-stricken, terror-stricken, panic- stricken, awestruck, awe-stricken, horror-struck, frightened to death, white as a sheet, pale, pale as a ghost, pale as death, pale as ashes, breathless, in hysterics, inspiring fear, alarming, formidable, redoubtable, perilous, portentous, fearful, dread, dreadful, fell, dire, direful, shocking, terrible, terrific, tremendous, horrid, horrible, horrific, ghastly, awful, awe-inspiring, revolting, Gorgonian, in terrorem, Int, angels and ministers of grace defend us!, ante tubam trepidat, horresco referens, one's heart failing one, obstupui steteruntque comae et vox faucibus haesit, a dagger of the mind, expertus metuit, fain would I climb but that I fear to fall, fear is the parent of cruelty, Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire, omnia tuta timens, our fears do make us traitors.For further exploring for "dread" in Webster Dictionary Online