Question 1

What does "Awful" mean in the King James Bible?

Accepted Answer

In the KJV, "Awful" means "terrible." The entire positive vocabulary of awe. English lost awful, awesome, terrible, and dreadful from the reverence register within two centuries, leaving no common single word for 'so majestic it makes you tremble.' The awful presence of God was not bad but overwhelming -- the ground-shaking, knee-buckling encounter with holiness.

Question 2

Why did the word "Awful" disappear from modern English?

Accepted Answer

Reversed from 'full of awe / awe-inspiring / commanding reverence' to 'terrible/very bad.' The capacity of English to express positive awe was permanently diminished. The word was at peak usage around 1611 and declined by ~1850.

Question 3

What modern word replaced "Awful"?

Accepted Answer

"Awful" was replaced by: "awesome" (though this followed the same path into triviality -- now means 'cool/great,' having lost the trembling reverence); "awe-inspiring" (though this requires a hyphenated phrase to say what one word once captured); "terrible" (though this also originally meant 'inspiring terror/reverence' and also fell into merely meaning 'bad').

What Does “Awful” Mean in the Bible?

What Was Lost