# Dread-ed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 6, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046 "2001-09-06T15:09:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/1 "2001-09-06T15:09:47Z")
In Cecil’s latest [column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990219.html), he uses the word “dread” as an adjective (in the sentence “Leprosy, one of history’s most **dread** diseases, has been around since ancient times.”. Sure enough, [http://www.m-w.com/](http://www.m-w.com/) says that “dread” can be a noun, verb or adjective. I’ve heard this before, but have also heard the word “dreaded” used as an adjective. Is “dreaded” a word? Can it be used as an adjective or simply a past-tense verb? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Carpenter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Mr\_Carpenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Carpenter)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/2 "2001-09-06T16:30:54Z")
Yes, you are right. I looked in the Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary and it only gives the word, “dread” but I don’t see “dreaded”. We like to use the word “dreaded” because it flows better. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/3 "2001-09-06T17:34:37Z")
English is a constant battleground over regularization. “Dread” seems archaic to me. In the “bad” sense it lies (for me) closer to affected than mannered; in the “awesome” sense closer to mannered. Mind you, I’m from a country where you are taken to hospital after an accident involving doing some maths about sport, so my ear may not be attuned to US lugs. It is a classic\* column, so perhaps the Dread Cecil has been overtaken by developments. \*[sub]a word now meaning “old yet saleable”.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/4 "2001-09-06T19:01:13Z")
Since “dread” is a weak transitive verb, “dreaded” is a perfectly good participle. It happens that “dread” is also an adjective, meaning “dreaded”. Nothing remotely wrong with using either one. Funny old language, English. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/5 "2001-09-06T21:17:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by picmr \* > Mind you, I’m from a country where you are taken to hospital after an accident involving doing some maths about sport, so my ear may not be attuned to US lugs. Huh? Cite? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/6 "2001-09-06T22:13:06Z")
“Huh?” picmr was trying to point out that we are two peoples divided by a common language. 🙂 Lorry versus truck, boot vs. trunk, pissed meaning drunk vs. pissed meaning angry, etcetera. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/7 "2001-09-06T22:15:11Z")
As opposed to being from a country (U.S.) where you are taken to **the** hospital after an accident involving doing some math\*\*\_\*\* about sport **s**. picmr is an Aussie. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Carpenter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Mr\_Carpenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Carpenter)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/8 "2001-09-07T05:55:44Z")
We say taken to THE hospital, and people in England say taken to hospital. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/9 "2001-09-08T01:25:17Z")
“Dread” is also a noun meaning Rasta locks, or de Rastaman 'imself. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dread-ed/80046/10 "2001-09-08T21:49:38Z")
Besides, “the Dreaded Pirate Roberts” just doesn’t have the same sound to it.