awful

1. (dated) Causing fear or horror; appalling, terrible.Examples: "There was an air of gravity and importance about the garb of the person, and something indescribably odd, I might say awful, in the perfect, stonelike stillness of the figure, that effectually checked the testy comment which had at once risen to the lips of the irritated artist."; "At our old pastimes in the hall ⁠We gambol’d, making vain pretence ⁠Of gladness, with an awful sense Of one mute Shadow watching all."dated

2. (now rare) Awe-inspiring; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive.Examples: "As I am seen could I but gaze on Thee / Awful in majesty and royal might"; "God ought not to be commixed in our actions, but with awful reverence, and an attention full of honour and respect."; "And then she stopped, and stood as if in awe / (For sleep is awful)[…]."archaic

3. (now rare) Struck or filled with awe or reverence.Examples: "She spoke about Mr. Pendennis (a worthy little gentleman enough, but there are others as good as he) with an awful reverence, as if he had been the Pope of Rome on his throne, and she a cardinal kneeling at his feet, and giving him incense."archaic

4. (obsolete) Terror-stricken.obsolete