I. affright adjective
Etymology: Middle English afright, alteration of afyrht, from Old English āfyrht, past participle of āfyrhtan to frighten, from ā- (perfective prefix) + fyrhtan to fear — more at abear , fright
obsolete : affrighted
II. af·fright aˈfrīt, əˈ-, usu -īd.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to impress with sudden fear : frighten , alarm
a strange wild country that began a little to affright us — Daniel Defoe
the affrighting cycle of reincarnation — J.R.Ullman
2. : to make frightful
casques that did affright the air at Agincourt — Shakespeare
these birds from their secret haunts affright the quiet of the night — Sheridan Le Fanu
Synonyms: see frighten
III. affright noun
( -s )
Etymology: affright (II)
1. : sudden and great fear approaching terror
he looks behind him with affright and forward with despair — Oliver Goldsmith
2. archaic : a cause of terror