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awful

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Awful adjective Good, excellent, extraordinary (usually applied to a person who has a fondness or propensity for performing a certain activity). [DARE labels this usage "Southern Appalachians" in the U.S.] 

1931 Goodrich Mt. Homespun 56 They do say it's the awfullest meetin' ever heard of. 1937 Hall Coll (Ravensford NC) She's an awful hand to fish. (said of the legendary Mrs. Clem Enloe, who fished in the  Park all year despite rules prohibiting this). 1939 Hall Coll. (Cataloochee NC) My daddy one time--he's an awful horse trader--he had an old wind sucker, one morning he got on him he said "I'll trade that thing if I don't get a bull yearling." 1939 Hall Coll. (Roaring Fork TN) We would have the awfullest time in the world...He had the awfullest sight of apples I ever saw.1939 Hall Coll (Waldens Creek TN) He was the awfullest singer I ever heard. 1956 Hall Coll (Mt Sterling NC) His granddaddy was an awful hunter. He hunted bear a lot. 1969 Medford Finis 78, 149 Oh what "awful sermonts" he could preach--"awful" was the term usually used...After they had gone on a few days, someone told me they wanted me to come, that they were having an "awful meetin'."  1976 GSMNP-114:28 I'm an awful Republican.1981 GSMNP-121:35 I was an awful boy to hunt. 1981 Whitener Folk-Ways 40 "An awful generation of young'uns" = a large family

 

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