Main Entry:

dire

Pronunciation:

\ˈdī(-ə)r\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

dir·er; dir·est

Etymology:

Latin dirus; akin to Greek deinos terrifying, Sanskrit dveṣṭi he hates

Date:

1565

1 a: exciting horror <dire suffering> b: dismal, oppressive <dire days>2: warning of disaster <a dire forecast>3 a: desperately urgent <dire need> b: extreme <dire poverty>

— dire·ly adverb

— dire·ness noun