dreadful Copy link Outline 1. dīrus (esp. poet.2. terrĭbĭlis, e3. horrĭbĭlis, e (causing a shudder)4. foedus (shocking in its features)5. tēter (taet.), tra, trum (like foedus, but stronger)6. atrox, ōcis (severe, violent) • dreadful: 1. dīrus (esp. poet.: in Cic. the word has the sense of ill-omened: "exta sine capite, quibus nihil videtur esse dirius," Div. 2, 15, 36): d. comets, d. cometae, Virg.: d. wickedness, d. nefas, Virg.: d. dropsy, d. hydrops, Hor.: d. Hannibal, d. Hannibal, Hor. 2. terrĭbĭlis, e: Sall.: Cic.: v. terrible. 3. horrĭbĭlis, e (causing a shudder): the d. Mede (Parthian), h. Medus, Hor.: d. to relate, h. dictu, Virg.: that is positively d., illud vero h., Cic. Join: horribilis ac pertimescendus, horribilis et miser, Cic. 4. foedus (shocking in its features): d. havoc, f. strages, Flor.: a d. wound, f. vulnus, Ov. 5. tēter (taet.), tra, trum (like foedus, but stronger): d. regions, loca t., Sall.: d. gloom, t. tenebrae [et caligo], Cic.: d. prodigies, t. prodigia, Liv.: a d. crime, t. facinus, Cic. 6. atrox, ōcis (severe, violent): a d. storm, a. tempestas, Liv.: Tac.: a very d. calamity, atrocissima calamitas, Vell.: the carnage was more d., caedes atrocior erat, Liv.