Emily Dickinson Lexicon
Definition for DIRE
DIRE, a. [L. dirus. If the primary sense is terrible, this word may belong to the root of terreo. But it may be great, wonderful, Syr. ܬܗܪ ther, to wonder; or it may be raging, furious, as in L. diræ.]
Dreadful; dismal; horrible; terrible; evil in a great degree. Dire was the tossing, deep the groans. – Milton.
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