/euh frayd"/ , adj.
1. feeling fear; filled with apprehension: afraid to go.
2. feeling regret, unhappiness, or the like: I'm afraid we can't go on Monday.
3. feeling reluctance, unwillingness, distaste, or the like: He seemed afraid to show his own children a little kindness.
[ var. sp. of affrayed, ptp. of AFFRAY to disturb, frighten ]
Syn. 1. scared, fearful, disquieted, apprehensive, timid, timorous. AFRAID, ALARMED, FRIGHTENED, TERRIFIED all indicate a state of fear. AFRAID implies inner apprehensive disquiet: afraid of the dark. ALARMED implies that the feelings are aroused through realization of some imminent or unexpected danger to oneself or others: alarmed by (or about ) someone's illness. FRIGHTENED means shocked with sudden, but usually short-lived, fear, esp. that arising from apprehension of physical harm: frightened by an accident. TERRIFIED suggests the emotional reaction when one is struck with a violent, overwhelming fear: terrified by an earthquake.
Ant. 1. bold, confident, fearless.