English Explanatory Dictionary

baleful

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Portending evil; ominous.
  2. Miserable, wretched, distressed, suffering.
  3. Deadly, mortal.

Pronunciation

/ˈbeɪl.fəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-baleful.wav

Word forms

baleful more baleful most baleful balefull

Etymology

From Middle English baleful, balful, baluful, from Old English bealuful, which was equivalent to bealu + -ful. By surface analysis, bale (“evil, woe”) + -ful. See bale for further etymology.

Synonyms

foreboding portentous augurous baleful bodeful boding dire disastrous divine fatal ill-boding ill-fated ill-omened ill-starred inauspicate inauspicious nefastous omenic ominous brooding presageful presagious prodigious sinister star-crossed sullen lethal terminal

Derived words

balefully balefulness unbaleful
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