English

Alternative forms

• gastful, gashful

Adjective

ghastful ‎(comparative more ghastful, superlative most ghastful)

1. (archaic) Causing fear; terrifying; dreadful; fit to make one aghast; exceedingly dismal.
   • 1922, E. R. Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros:

     Very desolate was that valley, having a dark aspect and a ghastful, such as a man might look for in the infernal glens of Pyriphlegethon or Acheron.

2. (archaic) Terrified, frightened.
   • 1716, Samuel Wesley, The history of the Old and New Testament attempted in verse, p. 13 (Google preview):

     Th' Almighty anſwers — "I my ſelf will place

     "The dreadful Stains of Murther on the Face,

     "That all may ſhun thy Crimes and Fate. — He ſaid,

     The Caitiff heard, with ghaſtful Looks he fled.

Derived terms

• ghastfully
• ghastfulness