Dictionary

affright en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /əˈfɹaɪt/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English afrighten, from Old English āfyrhtan, equivalent to a- + fright.

Meanings

1. (archaic, countable, uncountable) Great fear, terror, fright.
   • […]Then behold, there came up to us a huge fish, as big as a tall mountain, at whose sight we became wild for affright and, weeping sore, made ready for death, marvelling at its vast size and gruesome semblance; when lo! a second fish made its appearance than which we had seen naught more monstrous. 1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 563:
   • No one for a moment dreamed of the possible occurrence of any thing in the course of a few hours which would fill every mind with horror, and cause even the dark-hearted Martina to tremble with affright. 1854, The Mysteries of a Convent, page 107:

Forms

affright en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /əˈfɹaɪt/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English afrighten, from Old English āfyrhtan, equivalent to a- + fright.

Meanings

1. (archaic, transitive) To inspire fright in; to frighten, to terrify.
   • VVith ſcoffes and ſcornes, and contumelious taunts, / In open Market-place produc't they me, / To be a publique ſpectacle to all: / Here, ſayd they, is the Terror of the French, / The Scar-Crovv that affrights our Children ſo. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vi], page 100, column 1:
   • A drear and dying sound / Affrights the flamens at their service quaint. 1629, John Milton, “On the Morning of Christs Nativity”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC:
   • Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
   • "Hence, ladies and gentlemen," he added, "that frightful brood of saurians which still affright our eyes when seen in the Wealden or in the Solenhofen slates, but which were fortunately extinct long before the first appearance of mankind upon this planet." 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

affrighter · affrightment · affrightingly

Synonyms

scare the pants off of · make someone's blood run cold · horrify · spook · scare the hell out of · alarm · affright · fray · scare · grill · frighten · scare the bejeebers out of · give someone the shits · appall · dismay · petrify · mortify · terrorize · harrow · scare straight · scare the shit out of · terrify

affright en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /əˈfɹaɪt/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English afright, from Old English āfyrht (“terrified; afraid”), past participle of āfyrhtan (“to terrify; make afraid”).

Meanings

1. afraid; terrified; frightened
   • “Do not be afright,” he continued, after a pause; “do not be afright, my dear young ladies, I am quite harmless—a harmless old man—I would not shed a pigeon's blood. 1856, Mrs. S. C. Hall, Popular tales and sketches, page 29:
   • So that thou shalt not need I say, to feare or be affright, of all the shafts that Hie by day, nor terrours of the night. 1641, The Whole Booke of Psalmes:

Forms