Dread Meaning
/dɹɛd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo fear greatly.
verbTo anticipate with fear.
Sentence Examples
Why do you think animals dread fire?
Cats have a dread of water.
He is in constant dread of his father.
CEFR Practice Quiz
A feeling of ____ filled him as he entered the dark, empty house.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Why do you think animals ____ fire?
Word Origin & History
From Middle English dreden, from Old English drǣdan (“to fear, dread”), aphetic form of ondrǣdan (“to fear, dread”), from Proto-West Germanic *andarādan, equivalent to Old English and- + rǣdan (whence read); corresponding to an aphesis of earlier adread. Akin to Old Saxon antdrādan, andrādan (“to fear, dread”), Old High German intrātan (“to fear”), Middle High German entrāten (“to fear, dread, frighten”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Day by day, hole by hole our bearing reins were shortened, and instead of looking forward with pleasure to having my harness put on as I used to do, I began to dread it."
— [1877], Anna Sewell, “Earlshall”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, page 105:
"Dread not, neither be afraid of them."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 1:29:
"the secret dread of divine displeasure"
— 1671, John Tillotson, “Sermon IV. The Advantages of Religion to Particular Persons. Psalm XIX. 11.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
"the dread of something after death"
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
"They shared a common dread that he would begin moaning."
— 1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “The Soldier in White”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 169:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A feeling of ____ filled him as he entered the dark, empty house.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Why do you think animals ____ fire?