Threatening harm or evil; ominous and menacing in appearance or effect. Describes something that portends misfortune or has a malevolent, destructive influence.
From Old English 'bealu' meaning 'evil' or 'harm,' related to 'bale' (suffering or woe). The suffix '-ful' was added to create the modern adjective form, maintaining the original sense of bringing harm or evil.
Think of a 'bale' of hay catching fire—it would create a baleful (harmful) situation! The word sounds like 'bail,' but instead of helping someone out of trouble, baleful things push you deeper into it.
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