affright

• IPA^(key): /əˈfɹaɪt/

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

affright (plural affrights)

1. (archaic) Great fear, terror, fright.
   • 1854, The Mysteries of a Convent, page 107:

     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.

   • 1885, Richard F. Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Night 563:

     […] 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.

• See also Thesaurus:fear

affright (third-person singular simple present affrights, present participle affrighting, simple past and past participle affrighted)

1. (archaic, transitive) To terrify, to frighten, to inspire fright in.
   • William Shakespeare

     Dreams affright our souls.

   • Milton

     A drear and dying sound / Affrights the flamens at their service quaint.

• See also Thesaurus:frighten

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

• afright

affright (comparative more affright, superlative most affright)

1. afraid; terrified; frightened
   • 1641, The Whole Booke of Psalmes:

     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.

   • 1856, Mrs. S. C. Hall, Popular tales and sketches, page 29:

     “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.