dread

Etymology 1

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”).

verb

1. (transitive) To fear greatly.
2. To anticipate with fear.
   I'm dreading getting the results of the test, as it could decide my whole life.
3. (intransitive) To be in dread, or great fear.
4. (transitive) To style (the hair) into dreadlocks.

Etymology 2

From Middle English drede, dred, from the verb (see above). Cognate with Old Frisian drēd, drēde (“fear, dread”).

noun

1. Great fear in view of impending evil; fearful apprehension of danger; anticipatory terror.
   My visit to the doctor is filling me with dread.
   In 1928 [Martin] Heidegger succeeded [Edmund] Husserl to take a chair at Freiburg and in his inaugural lecture made a pronouncement that earned him a reputation as an archetypal metaphysician with his claim that our awareness of people as a whole depends on our experience of dread in the face of nothingness. 12 April 2014, Michael Inwood, “Martin Heidegger: the philosopher who fell for Hitler [print version: Hitler's philosopher]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review), London, page R11
2. Reverential or respectful fear; awe.
3. Somebody or something dreaded.
4. (obsolete) A person highly revered.
5. (obsolete) Fury; dreadfulness.
6. A Rastafarian.
7. (slang, chiefly in the plural) Clipping of dreadlock.
   Jesus Christ had dreads / So shake 'em / I ain't got none / But I'm planning on growing some. 2006, “Tell Me When To Go”, in Earl Stevens, Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels (lyrics), Lil Jon (music), My Ghetto Report Card
8. (military, nautical, historical, slang) Clipping of dreadnought.
   The Royal Navy sent six dreads and four BCs to intercept the German raiding force.

Etymology 3

From Middle English drede, dredde, dradde, ydreddyd (“feared, dreaded, honoured”), past participle of Middle English dreden (“to fear, dread”). See above.

adj

1. Terrible; greatly feared; dreaded.
   With cat-like tread / Upon our prey we steal / In silence dread / Our cautious way we feel 1879, Arthur Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance, Gilbert & Sullivan
   1980, Donald Fagen; Walter Becker (lyrics and music), "Glamour Profession" in Gaucho, track 3: "Jack with his radar / Stalking the dread moray eel"
2. (archaic) Awe-inspiring; held in fearful awe.
   The acts made in the first Parliament of our most high and dread soveraigne Charles [I], by the grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. […] [book title] 1633, John Hay, editor, The Acts Made in the First Parliament of our Most High and Dread Soveraigne Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.: Holden by Himselfe, Present in Person, with His Three Estates, at Edinburgh, upon the Twentie Eight Day of Iune, Anno Domini 1633, Edinburgh: Printed by Robert Young, printer to the Kings most excellent Maiestie, →OCLC