ENGLISH
REFERENCE

baleful

adj.
US //ˈbeɪɫfəɫ// UK //bˈeɪlfəl// bale·ful Archaic
Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English baleful, balful, baluful, from Old English bealuful, which was equivalent to bealu + -ful. By surface analysis, bale (“evil, woe”) + -ful. See bale for further etymology.

© 2026 English Reference