ghastful
Definitions
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- undefined Causing fear; terrifying; dreadful.
- undefined Feeling fear; afraid; fearful.
Examples
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He had carried his chair to a corner of the room, and there he sat, his face half-hidden, resting upon his breast, his knee drawn up and pressed tightly by his clasped hands -- those very hands, small and marble-white, forming a ghastful contrast to the raven hair that fell thickly on his back.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 53, No. 330, April 1843
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And he maketh a ruthful noise and ghastful, when one proffereth to fight with another: and unneth is hurt when he is thrown down off an high place.
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Trevisa has invented an adjective for us that expresses the midnight caterwaul -- "ghastful."
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On a time as S. Patrick preached in Ireland the faith of Jesu Christ, and did but little profit by his predication, for he could not convert the evil, rude and wild people, he prayed to our Lord Jesu Christ that he would show them some sign openly, fearful and ghastful, by which they might be converted and be repentant of their sins.
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Wherefore S. John appeared to him in a ghastful manner, blaming him greatly for that he had not said it, and after that he said it every day unto his life’s end.
Note
The word 'ghastful' comes in part from an Old English word meaning 'to torment, frighten'.
