afeard

American  

[uh-feerd] / əˈfɪərd /

Or afeared

adjective

British and Midland and Southern U.S.

1. afraid.

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afeard British  

/ əˈfɪəd /

adjective

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

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Etymology

Origin of afeard

before 1000; Middle English afered, Old English āfǣred frightened (past participle of āfǣran ). See a- ³, fear, -ed ²

Example Sentences

While perusing, you might take the advice of Caliban, in “The Tempest”: “Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises / Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.”

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2018

“Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not,” he tells the drunken, deluded butler, Stephano.

From New York Times • Oct. 14, 2014

An actor is due to recite Caliban's speech, the one that runs "Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises."

From Seattle Times • Jul. 23, 2012

"I've never been afeard of man ner beast," he said, "but when that old cateymount yowls near our house it just makes my hair stand plumb straight up on my head."

From Time Magazine Archive

She told me not to be afeard, that they were just soldiers far away from home.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson