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affray
[ uh-frey ]
/ əˈfreɪ /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
a public fight; a noisy quarrel; brawl.
Law. the fighting of two or more persons in a public place.
verb (used with object)
Archaic. to frighten.
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ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?
We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.
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Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?
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Origin of affray
1275–1325; Middle English <Anglo-French afray (noun), afrayer (v.), Old French esfrei (noun), esfreer (v.) <Vulgar Latin *exfridāre to break the peace, equivalent to ex-ex-1 + -frid- peace (<Germanic; compare German Friede) + -āre infinitive suffix
Words nearby affray
afford, affordable, Affordable Care Act, afforest, affranchise, affray, affrayer, affreight, affreightment, affricate, affrication
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use affray in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for affray
affray
/ (əˈfreɪ) /
noun
law a fight, noisy quarrel, or disturbance between two or more persons in a public place
verb
(tr) archaic to frighten
Word Origin for affray
C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin exfridāre (unattested) to break the peace; compare German Friede peace
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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