affray

[ uh-frey ]
/ əˈfreɪ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR affray ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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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. 2020

Words related to affray

disturbance, riot, clash, melee, brawl, ruckus, scuffle, skirmish, assault, altercation, fracas, battle, attack, encounter, quarrel, donnybrook

Example sentences from the Web for affray

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012