AWFUL, a. [awe and full.] 1. That strikes with awe; that fills with profound reverence; as the awful majesty of Jehovah.2. That fills with terror and dread; as the awful approach of death.3. Struck with awe; scrupulous.A weak and awful reverence for antiquity.Shakespeare uses it for worshipful, inspiring respect by authority or dignity.Our common people use this word in the sense of frightful, ugly, detestable.
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