I. ə-ˈfrənt transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English afronten, from Anglo-French afrunter to defy, from Vulgar Latin * affrontare, from Latin ad- + front-, frons forehead
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : to insult especially to the face by behavior or language
b. : to cause offense to
a system of law about both family and marriage that affront ed lay society — J. H. Mundy
2.
a. : to face in defiance : confront
affront death
b. obsolete : to encounter face-to-face
3. : to appear directly before
Synonyms: see offend
II. noun
Date: 1533
1. obsolete : a hostile encounter
2. : a deliberate offense : insult
an affront to his dignity