afeared
Adjective: - Afraid, frightened: An archaic, dialectal, or informal pronunciation and spelling of the adjective "afraid," meaning feeling fear or anxiety.
This word is used to describe a state of fear. It is not standard in modern English and is primarily found in historical contexts, regional dialects (especially in some parts of the UK and the US), or in creative writing to evoke a specific tone. - It functions identically to the adjective "afraid" and can be used predictively (after a linking verb like "be" or "feel").
- Literary/Historical Tone: Using "afeared" instead of "afraid" can create an archaic, rustic, or folkloric atmosphere in storytelling, poetry, or dialogue.
- The villagers were afeared of the creature that lived in the mountain.
- Afraid (adj.): The standard modern English word with the same meaning.
- Fearful (adj.): Feeling afraid; apprehensive.
- Frightened (adj.): Filled with fear.
- Scared
- Terrified
- Fearful
- Frightened
- Apprehensive
- Brave
- Fearless
- Unafraid
- Courageous
- Bold
While "afeared" itself is not commonly used in modern idioms, it can appear in archaic versions of common phrases involving fear. - To be afeared of one's own shadow: An archaic version of the idiom meaning to be extremely timid or easily frightened. - After the ordeal, he was afeared of his own shadow.
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a pronunciation of afraid
