afeard

or a·feared

[ uh-feerd ]

adjectiveBritish and Midland and Southern U.S.

Origin of afeard

1
before 1000; Middle English afered,Old English āfǣred frightened (past participle of āfǣran). See a-3, fear, -ed2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use afeard in a sentence

  • But natheless it may hap that I find a chief who is less afeared of great ventures than thou art, King.

  • There's them that 'lows there's things in this here Holler t' be afeared of, an' I reckon hit's so.

    The Shepherd of the Hills | Harold Bell Wright
  • "I'm afeared, then, I won't be able to claim that there money," he said forlornly.

    From Place to Place | Irvin S. Cobb
  • Folks is jus naturally afeared to doctor with Playford since they found out Alfred mixes the medicine.

    Watch Yourself Go By | Al. G. Field
  • I was afeared the money'd be too many for ye; but barrin' yer big foot an' the ugly nose that's on ye, ye're an angel.

    Sevenoaks | J. G. Holland

British Dictionary definitions for afeard

afeard

afeared

/ (əˈfɪəd) /


adjective
  1. (postpositive) an archaic or dialect word for afraid

Origin of afeard

1
Old English āfǣred, from afǣran to frighten, from fǣran to fear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012