chilling

Word Origin & History

Old English ciele, cele "cold, coolness, chill, frost," from Proto-Germanic *kal- "to be cold," from PIE root *gel- "cold" (see cold). According to OED, the word seems to have been obsolete after c.1400 (displaced by cold) and the modern use is a back-formation since c.1600 from the verb.

Example Sentences forchilling

Marthe had felt a cold breath, chilling the roots of her hair.

I dare say my gaze was of the most chilling character and steady.

It was chilling to meet with this unexpected and sudden check at so critical a moment.

It is a chilling thought to doubt, yet how can we have confidence!

The horror once more was chilling his blood, floating before his eyes.

But if his reception in the refectory was chilling, his welcome in the courtyard was warm enough.

After that there was a chilling and hideous silence, as if something awful were about to occur.

A moment of chilling silence was followed by an under-breath of gossip.

I was deep in the Mile End Road, when a chilling thought came to me.

It was like a splash of cold water in the face, at once awakening and chilling.

chilling

more frightening

most frightening

nightmarish

refrigeration

scarier

scariest

scary

spookiest

chilling

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