Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [dahyuh r]
- /daɪər/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [dahyuh r]
- /daɪər/
Definitions of direness word
- adjective direness causing or involving great fear or suffering; dreadful; terrible: a dire calamity. 1
- adjective direness indicating trouble, disaster, misfortune, or the like: dire predictions about the stock market. 1
- adjective direness urgent; desperate: in dire need of food. 1
- noun direness The state or quality of being dire. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of direness
First appearance:
before 1560 One of the 32% oldest English words
First recorded in 1560-70, dire is from the Latin word dīrus fearful, unlucky
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Direness
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
direness popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 90% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.
direness usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for direness
noun direness
- awfulness — The quality of striking with awe, or with reverence; dreadfulness; solemnity; as, the awfulness of this sacred place.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with d
- Words starting with di
- Words starting with dir
- Words starting with dire
- Words starting with diren
- Words starting with direne
- Words starting with direnes
- Words starting with direness