Definition of fearful

The word "fearful" originates from the Old English word "fæger," meaning "beautiful" or "fair." This might seem counterintuitive, but it evolved through a process called semantic shift. Over time, "fæger" came to mean "pleasant" or "desirable," and then, through association with things that were "pleasant" but also potentially dangerous, it shifted to mean "dreadful" or "terrible." The transition to "fearful" came about as "fæger" was combined with the Old English word "fēor," meaning "fear," leading to "fægerful," which later became "fearful." So, while the word's modern meaning seems far removed from its original sense, the journey illustrates the dynamic nature of language and its ability to evolve with cultural shifts and changing societal perspectives.