v.
Pronunciation: ə - ' fr ī t
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English afyrht, afright frightened, from Old English ā fyrht, past participle of ā fyrhtan to frighten, from ā -, perfective prefix + fyrhtan to fear; akin to Old English fyrhto fright ― more at ABIDE , FRIGHT
Date: before 12th century
archaic : FRIGHTEN , ALARM