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Glite Dictionary
fangsome beast

fangsome beast

9.9
A scary creature with big, sharp teeth that people fear
  • noun
translation icon : bestia temible
  • Stories about the fangsome beast kept children from wandering into the woods at night.

Examples

  • The villagers hid in terror when the fangsome beast emerged from the forest.

  • Legend spoke of a fangsome beast lurking in the caves near the river.

  • The fangsome beast lurked in the shadows.

  • Have you ever seen a fangsome beast?

  • The villagers hid in terror when the fangsome beast emerged from the forest.

  • Legend spoke of a fangsome beast lurking in the caves near the river.

  • Stories about the fangsome beast kept children from wandering into the woods at night.

Antonyms

harmless
231 1.0

Not able to hurt people or things

gentle
146 1.0

Easy to handle or train and not aggressive

How Fearsome

monster
∞ 2.2
fangsome beast
9.9
beast
464 1.0
animal
∞ 1.0
creature
∞ 1.3

Surface Forms

fangsome beast singular
fangsome beasts plural

Morphology

fangsome + beast

Although 'fangsome' is not a standard dictionary entry, its meaning is transparently derivable by decomposing it into 'fang' (a pointed tooth) + the productive adjectival suffix '-some' (characterized by). Combined with 'beast' (a large dangerous animal), a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer 'a frightening animal with prominent fangs.'

Etymology

Fangsome beast may come from storytellers who wanted a clear picture: a beast full of sharp fangs that looks very scary. So, it now means 'a frightening creature'.