Direful

The beginning was not easy, it was even "direful," and "methought" I should die of despair; but now things are going, I am all right, come what may! ❋ Sand, George, 1804-1876 (1921)

It's a direful thing to have in your hands, a desiccated version of Lady Gaga's skirt-steak dress. ❋ Sammy Perlmutter (2010)

If it may lead any portion of the public to learn Better to distinguish than hitherto Between those who have plunged us into such a war and so long kept us in it and those who would have prevented our ever rushing into that direful whirlpool I have my chief object. ❋ Unknown (2009)

This he took in good part, and was really pleased, nodding his head with direful foreknowledge and mystery, until George Leach, the erstwhile cabin-boy, ventured some rough pleasantry on the subject. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The Road could be classified as science-fiction for the near-future setting and prophetic look of a world turned to ash, and it could be classified as horror for the suspense and direful moments the characters must endure -- two genres I'm sure McCarthy would prefer to keep at a distance from his work. ❋ Unknown (2009)

While you diligently pursued that favorite phantom of yours, called profits, and moralized about that favorite fetich of yours, called competition, even greater and more direful things have been accomplished by combination. ❋ Unknown (2010)

He would delight them equally by his anecdotes of witchcraft, and of the direful omens and portentous sights and sounds in the air… ❋ Jessica Verday (2010)

Songs, "three yards for a penny," were always safe; but when doubtful stories were promulgated, Jemmy directed his patterers to work new districts far distant from where the direful deeds were supposed to originate. ❋ Steve (2009)

“Great Heaven!” he exclaimed, prostrating himself by her side, “what is it you have done! — where are you wounded? — what direful curse have you denounced against your son?” ❋ Unknown (2008)

A meeting, thus circumstanced, with her Father, at a moment when he came upon so direful a business, as parting with a place of which she had herself occasioned the desertion, seemed to her insupportable: and she resolved to return immediately to Belfont, to see there if her answer from ❋ Unknown (2008)

Loud again sounded the same direful voice: 'These are thy deserts; write now thy claims: – and next, – and quick, – turn over the immortal leaves, and read thy doom – Oh, no!' she cried, 'Oh, no!' ... ❋ Unknown (2008)

Weiss closes that gloomy portion of his history, by gently reminding his readers that certain changes indeed took place that made that captain's direful prediction somewhat inaccurate. ❋ Unknown (2008)

The lady, on that direful morning when she retired from the church of Douglas, had not resolved (indeed what lady ever did?) to renounce, without some struggle, the beauties which she had once possessed. ❋ Unknown (2008)

Thus, direful war began again, and lasted for three years, when the Unready died. ❋ Unknown (2007)

It is haunted to a fearful extent by rats; and direful stories, “horrible, if true,” were related in the parlour of personal mutilations sustained by visitors. ❋ Unknown (2007)

As it grew darker, these stories became more direful and mysterious; and often, when some frightened passenger ran past with tidings that the rioters were not far off, and were coming up, the doors were shut and barred, lower windows made secure, and as much consternation engendered, as if the city were invaded by a foreign army. ❋ Unknown (2007)

This is a direful need, that all my warriors should lie low in death before them. ❋ Unknown (2007)