Middle English Dictionary Entry
aueful adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | aueful adj. Also aghe-, ahe-, aughful. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Terrible, fearsome; (b) commanding great respect or deference, worthy of reverence, awe-inspiring.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)271 : Þu þe ane dreddes nawt..to fihte aȝaines alle þe ahefulle deueles of helle.
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)5/178 : Þe folke so armed an so aughfull þat so egrely come to take Ihesu, noght wid armes he þham widstode.
- a1425 Medit.Pass.(1) (Arun 507)116 : Als auful & grisly sal it be to þe ille.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7172 : Þatt he be grimme & aȝhefull, & braþ & tor to cwemenn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7869 : Dauid he was an aghful [Göt: waful; Trin-C: wise] man, Ful rightwisli he regnd þan.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)46.2 : For lauerd hegh, aghful to se, King mikil ouer alle land es he.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Arun 507)135 : Swa auful [Thrn: awefull] sal þou see god þare.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)16 : Ane Emperoure þe aȝefullest þat euer armys hauntid, Þat was þe athill Alexsandire.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)290/12 : This kyng Charlis was..wele shapyn & awfull to sight.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)75.7 : Thou ert agheful, and wha sall agayn stand the?
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)105.21 : Thai forgat god..that did selkouthis in egipt..agheful thyngis [L terribilia] in the rede see.