grimful

English

Etymology

From Middle English grimful, grymfull, from Old English grimfull (“fierce, terrible”), equivalent to grim (noun) +‎ -ful.

Adjective

grimful (comparative more grimful, superlative most grimful)

1. Characterised by grimness; harsh, wrathful, terrible.
   • 1860, Charles Campbell, History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia, page 545:

     And fist, sledge-hammer like; nor grimful face […]

   • 1870, Thomas Roscoe, The Works of Jonathan Swift:

     The greatest favour grimful Death can show Is with swift dart to expedite the blow.