1 Nevertheless, let me sup in spite of sorrow, for an empty stomach is a very importunate thing, and thrusts itself on a man's notice no matter how dire is his distress.
2 This was a dire blow to poor Elizabeth, who had relied with firmness upon Justine's innocence.
3 Legree, cursing his ill luck, and vowing dire vengeance on the morrow, went to bed.
4 That direful mishap was at the bottom of his temporary recluseness.
5 With straining eyes, then, they remained on the outer edge of the direful zone, whose centre had now become the old man's head.
Moby Dick By Herman MelvilleContext Highlight In CHAPTER 133. The Chase—First Day. 6 Aye, aye, like many more thou told'st direful truth as touching thyself, O Parsee; but, Ahab, there thy shot fell short.
Moby Dick By Herman MelvilleContext Highlight In CHAPTER 135. The Chase.—Third Day. 7 Miserable I am, and must be for a time; for the catastrophe which drove me from a house I had found a paradise was of a strange and direful nature.
8 Here had been grievous mismanagement; but, bad as it was, he gradually grew to feel that it had not been the most direful mistake in his plan of education.