early 13c., "full of dread or fear, timid," from dread (n.) + -ful. Meaning "causing dread, exciting terror" is from c. 1200; weakened sense of "very bad" is by 1680s. Related: Dreadfully; dreadfulness.
a dreadful storm
dreadful manners
don't go out, the weather is dreadful
draw-string
dray
drayage
drayman
dread
dreadful
dreadlocks
dreadnought
dreads
dream
dreamboat
