Meaning
- Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.
- (colloquial) Regretful, sorry; expressing a reluctance to face an unpleasant situation.
- Worried about, feeling concern for, fearing for (someone or something).
Synonyms
nervous
be afraid
afraid of
be a coward
be alarmed
be confused
be frightened
be nervous
be petrified
be terrified
be timid
fearful person
have fear
terror-struck
feel inferior
be threatened
feeling fear
inquiet
be afraid of
quake in one’s boots
Frequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/əˈfɹeɪd/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English affrayed, affraied, past participle of afraien (“to affray”), from Anglo-Norman afrayer (“to terrify, disquiet, disturb”), from Old French effreer, esfreer (“to disturb, remove the peace from”), from es- (“out”) + freer (“to secure, secure the peace”), from Frankish *friþu (“security, peace”), from Proto-Germanic *friþuz (“peace”), from Proto-Germanic *frijōną (“to free; to love”), from Proto-Indo-European *prāy-, *prēy- (“to like, love”). By surface analysis, affray + -ed. Compare also afeard. More at free, friend.
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Notes