Baleful comes from the Old English word bealofull, meaning “full of harm” or “dangerous.” In English, it has been used since the early 15th century to describe something that is full of menacing or malign influences. Balefulness can be found in many different contexts, from literature and mythology to everyday speech and popular culture. Today, baleful remains a commonly used word in English, and is often associated with danger, fear, and the supernatural.