Added 9 October 2026
frightful
/ˈfɹaɪtfəl/ adjective
In Latin: metūculōsus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about frightful at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Full of fright, whether Afraid, frightened. Timid, fearful, easily frightened.
- Afraid, frightened.
- Timid, fearful, easily frightened.
adverb
- Frightfully; very.
Origin
From Middle English frightful (“afraid”), from Old English forhtfull (“fainthearted, timorous”). Equivalent to fright + -ful.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)