baleful

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective deadly or sinister
  2. adjective threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

Etymology

From Middle English baleful, balful, baluful, from Old English bealuful, which was equivalent to bealu + -ful. By surface analysis, bale (“evil, woe”) + -ful. See bale for further etymology.

In classic literature

Synonyms

baneful

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