frightful meaning (obsolete): definition

frightful

adj

/ˈfɹaɪtfəl/

Etymology From Middle English frightful (“afraid”), from Old English forhtfull (“fainthearted, timorous”). Equivalent to fright + -ful.

› Full of fright, whether

Obsolete Afraid, frightened.

Obsolete Timid, fearful, easily frightened.

See how the frightful herds run from the wood.1613, William Browne, Britannia's Pastorals:

› Full of something causing fright, whether

Genuinely horrific, awful, or alarming.

Excessive Unpleasant, dreadful, awful (also used as an intensifier).

Francis Urquhart: What a frightful little man. Where do they find them these days? Tim Stamper: God knows. If I had a dog like that, I'd shoot it. Francis Urquhart: Well, yes. Quite.1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:

adv

Etymology From Middle English frightful (“afraid”), from Old English forhtfull (“fainthearted, timorous”). Equivalent to fright + -ful.

Dialectal Frightfully; very.

You had a lot of frightful good quotes. You must know half the books that there are.1926, Charles Edward Montague, Rough Justice, page 87:
It's a frightful long time, and I don't get many letters from him.1942, Philip Gibbs, The Long Alert, page 200:

1 more example

But we ain't found a soul what knows you, honey-love, I am so frightful sorry to say.2018, Abbie Williams, Way Back: