Adjective

(en adjective)

Anticipating something with anxiety or fear.

* 1719 ,

this convinced me that there was no going on shore for us in the night on that coast, and how to venture on shore in the day was another question too; for to have fallen into the hands of any of the savages had been as bad as to have fallen into the hands of the lions and tigers; at least we were equally apprehensive of the danger of it.

Perceptive; quick to learn; intelligent; capable of grasping with the mind or intellect.

* 1670 ,

More fond of Miracles, than apprehensive of Truth.

Adjective

(en adjective)

Causing dread; very bad.

* 1900 , , (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) Chapter 23

"My greatest wish now," she added, "is to get back to Kansas, for Aunt Em will surely think something dreadful has happened to me, and that will make her put on mourning; and unless the crops are better this year than they were last, I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it."

*, chapter=17

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=This time was most dreadful for Lilian. Thrown on her own resources and almost penniless, she maintained herself and paid the rent of a wretched room near the hospital by working as a charwoman, sempstress, anything. In a moment she had dropped to the level of a casual labourer.}}

* {{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 10, author=Marc Higginson, work=BBC Sport

, title= Bolton 1-2 Aston Villa , passage=After a dreadful performance in the opening 45 minutes, they upped their game after the break and might have taken at least a point from the match.}}