Etymology

Formed on aghe (n.) + suffix within English.

PGmc Ancestor

*ag-
 

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

agi ‘(n.) dread, awe; discipline; enmity’
(ONP agi (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

OE Cognate

cp. ege (n.) ‘fear, awe’

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

C1c

Attestation

First cited in Orrm by MED, and mostly N in ME.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 16

Bibliography

MED aueful (adj.) , OED awful (adj.) , HTOED ; see further aghe (n.).