afeard

or a·feared

[ uh-feerd ]

/ əˈfɪərd /

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adjective British and Midland and Southern U.S.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of afeard

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

Words nearby afeard

Afars and the Issas, fate worse than death, a, AFB, AFC, AFDC, afeard, feather in one's cap, a, afebrile, a few, aff, affability

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use afeard in a sentence

And I am afeard my former high esteem of his preaching was more out of opinion than judgment.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete|Samuel Pepys
We sent for a doctor and chyrurgeon, but none to be found, till by-and-by by chance comes in Dr. Clerke, who is afeard of him.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete|Samuel Pepys
At which I was glad, but only afeard lest any thing of the King's should force us to go after him to get a seal in the country.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete|Samuel Pepys
So home and to bed with quiett mind, blessed be God, but afeard of my candle's going out, which makes me write thus slubberingly.
Diary of Samuel Pepys, Complete|Samuel Pepys

There's places enough, sight worse, and then agin there's them, a good deal better But you needn't be afeard.
The English Orphans|Mary Jane Holmes

British Dictionary definitions for afeard

afeard

afeared

/ (əˈfɪəd) /

adjective

(postpositive) an archaic or dialect word for afraid

Word Origin for afeard

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