affright

[uh-frahyt]Archaic.

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verb (used with object)

to frighten.

noun

sudden fear or terror; fright.

a source of terror.

the act of terrifying.

Origin of affright

before 1000; Middle English afrighten, Old English āfyrhtan, equivalent to ā- a-³ + fyrhtan to fright

Related formsself-af·fright·ed, adjectiveun·af·fright·ed, adjectiveun·af·fright·ed·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for affright

fright, intimidate, alarm, startle, spook, daunt, panic, scare, terrify

Examples from the Web for affright

Historical Examples of affright

In a swerve he almost stopped, every muscle of his big body trembling in affright.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
Polly lingered near, affright in her heart, Oh, if her father were only there!
Polly of Lady Gay Cottage
Emma C. Dowd
Her eyes roved to Garnache's, and fell away in affright before their glitter.
St. Martin's Summer
Rafael Sabatini
Blood and wounds, Master Joseph, think you to affright me with words?
The Tavern Knight
Rafael Sabatini
He groaned aloud unconsciously and started with affright at the sound of his own voice.
Almayer's Folly
Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for affright

affright

verb

(tr) to frighten

noun

a sudden terror

Word Origin for affright

Old English āfyrhtan, from a-, a prefix indicating the beginning or end of an action + fyrhtan to fright

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

Word Origin and History for affright

1580s, a late construction from a- (1) + fright (v.), probably on model of earlier past participle adjective affright "struck with sudden fear" (metathesized from Old English afyrht). Related: Affrighted; affrighting.