affright

  • 1Affright — Af*fright , n. 1. Sudden and great fear; terror. It expresses a stronger impression than fear, or apprehension, perhaps less than terror. [1913 Webster] He looks behind him with affright, and forward with despair. Goldsmith. [1913 Webster] 2. The …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Affright — Af*fright , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Affrighted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Affrighting}.] [Orig. p. p.; OE. afright, AS. [=a]fyrhtan to terrify; [=a] (cf. Goth. us , Ger. er , orig. meaning out) + fyrhto fright. See {Fright}.] To impress with sudden fear; to …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3affright — (v.) 1580s, a late construction from A (Cf. a ) (1) + FRIGHT (Cf. fright) (v.), probably on model of earlier pp. adjective affright struck with sudden fear (metathesized from O.E. afyrht). Related: Affrighted; affrighting …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4Affright — Af*fright , p. a. Affrighted. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5affright — index consternation, discourage, fear, fright, frighten, intimidate, menace, panic, trepidation …

    Law dictionary

  • 6affright — vb *frighten, fright, affray, scare, alarm, terrify, terrorize, startle Analogous words: daunt, horrify, appall, *dismay: cow, *intimidate, bulldoze: confound, bewilder (see PUZZLE) Antonyms: nerve, embolden Contrasted words: animate, fire,… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 7affright — [ə frīt′] vt. [ME afrighten < OE afyrhtan: see FRIGHT] Archaic to frighten; terrify n. Archaic great fright or terror, or a cause of terror …

    English World dictionary

  • 8affright — I noun an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety • Syn: ↑panic, ↑terror • Derivationally related forms: ↑terrorist (for: ↑terror), ↑terrorize ( …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 9affright — I. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English afyrht, afright frightened, from Old English āfyrht, past participle of āfyrhtan to frighten, from ā , perfective prefix + fyrhtan to fear; akin to Old English fyrhto fright more at abide, fright Date …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 10affright — /euh fruyt /, Archaic. v.t. 1. to frighten. n. 2. sudden fear or terror; fright. 3. a source of terror. 4. the act of terrifying. [bef. 1000; ME afrighten, OE afyrhtan, equiv. to a A 3 + fyrhtan to FRIGHT] * * * …

    Universalium