affright
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
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sudden fear or terror; fright.
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a source of terror.
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the act of terrifying.
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of affright
before 1000; Middle English afrighten, Old English āfyrhtan, equivalent to ā- a- 3 + fyrhtan to fright
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The vivid image of a theatre as a wooden O comes from the prologue to Henry V: "Can this Cock-Pit hold within this Woodden O, the very Caskes that did affright the Ayre at Agincourt?"
From The Guardian ● Jun. 5, 2012
The words on her bookmark are perhaps her most memorable: Let nothing disturb thee, Let nothing affright thee.
From Time Magazine Archive
The sound of its bell, to paraphrase Poe, was "In the startled ear of night/ How it screamed out its affright!"
From Time Magazine Archive
I like it not, and I have grave doubts; but I fear to affright her, and so I am silent of it.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
As they crowded on the militia, the latter, with their officers, gave way in affright, and poured pell-mell down the bank.
From The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of 2 by Joel Tyler Headley
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
