An adjective describing something that inspires awe or dread, used both for terrifying military might and for dignified, almost overwhelming beauty. Habakkuk applies it to the Chaldeans, whose very appearance struck fear into their enemies. The Song of Songs uses it twice to describe the beloved's majestic beauty—she is 'awesome as an army with banners,' a phrase that blends attraction with overwhelming power. The term captures that trembling response when encountering something too great to approach casually.