Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Awfull, a. Also: awfule, aufull, auful. [Northern ME. aghful, early ME. aheful, f. Aw n.¹ See also Auchful a.] Inspiring or causing awe or dread; dreadful, terrible: a. Of persons. b. Of things, aspect, etc. c. Of speech or actions.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xix. 105 (ane [knicht], awful to se; = L. ferus et terribilis). c1420 Wynt. vi. 1894 (he wes till hys legis all awfull). c1450-2 Howlat 618 (mair awfull [beings] saw I never air). a1500 Henr. Fab. 1163 (till he befoir the awfull Iuge appeird). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 113 (Mars, awfull and sterne). 1531 Bell. Boece II. 13 (We sall knawe oure ennimes incressing awfull). 1570 Leslie 19 (a verrey awfull and rigorus man). a1578 Pitsc. II. 158/14 (the congregatioun appeirit werie awfull in thair enemies sicht).(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 546 (a quhele awfule & hye). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 148 (with mony aufull instrument). 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 138 (the herauldis, with thare awfull vestimentis); 169 (sic aufull tornamentis on hors & fute). a1578 Pitsc. II. 39/11 (com fordwart furieouslie witht ane aufull contienance). c1590 J. Stewart 47/162 (quhair euir he verts his awfull face).(c) a1400 Leg. S. l. 9 (he gert sone awfull lettris wryt). c1420 Wynt. viii. 4238 (he swore mony ane awful athe). c1475 Wall. v. 60 (on thaim he sett with ane awfull hard assay). c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 35 (his awfull strak may no man fle). 1535 Stewart 32103 (with sic awfull sound). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3434 (with awfull thoundryng). 1565 St. A. Kirk S. 235 (throw the aufull and terrebyll threatnyng of my said brother).