D&D General ‪What does the word “dire”‬ mean to you?

[Panda-s1]

yeah idk if "dire = better" is the best way of putting it, I much rather encounter a wolf than a direwolf, and a direwolf is only "better" than a wolf in certain aspects.

 

[Celebrim]

American. It means 'dangerous'.

 

[CleverNickName]

In D&D, dire = extra chompy boi

So 'dire bear' means an extra chompy danger floof, and 'dire skunk' means extra chompy fart squirrel.

 

[Jacob Lewis]

Money for nothing and your chicks for free.

 

[atanakar]

Dire Foes. Twice as deadly opponents!

 

[generic]

Giant Dire Half-Dragon Squirrellich

 

[Minigiant]

Dire means more dangerous in a bad way for the other object or person of the sentence.

Rat= rat
Dire rat = Danger rat
Giant rat = Big rat
Swarms of rats = Lotta rats

 

[MarkB]

I think the explanation makes it clear what’s meant. This isn’t intended to be an exercise in pedantry.

When I look at the options in your poll and none of them resonate with me as a true and accurate interpretation of the word "dire", that's not just pedantry.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

I'm pretty sure dire actually means "MOAR SPIKES!!!"


(Oh, and I voted the first option!)

 

[Marandahir]

The British meaning arises from the negatively of sayings like, "Dire straits" or "the news is dire" (perilous).

Dire wolves are perilous wolves. There's no real divide, just a divide of common use.