Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sudden and intense feeling of fear or alarm; fright, terror. This is an archaic or literary term for a state of great fear.
2. Verb (transitive):
   • To frighten or terrify someone; to fill with sudden fear. This is an archaic or literary verb meaning to cause fright.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The sudden noise filled her with affright.
  • He stood frozen in affright at the sight.
• Verb:
  • The ghostly figure was meant to affright the audience.
  • Stories of the monster could not affright the brave knight.

Advanced Usage

• "To take affright": To become frightened. (Archaic/Literary)
  • The horse took affright at the thunder and bolted.

Variants and Related Words

• Fright (n/v): The modern, more common equivalent for both the noun and verb forms of "affright."
• Affrighted (adj): Frightened, terrified. (Archaic/Literary)
  • The affrighted villagers hid in their homes.
• Affrighting (adj): Frightening, terrifying. (Archaic/Literary)
  • It was an affrighting experience.

Synonyms

• Noun: Fright, terror, alarm, dread, panic, horror.
• Verb: Frighten, terrify, scare, alarm, startle, dismay.

Notes on Usage

• Register: The word "affright" is now considered archaic or literary. It is rarely used in modern everyday English. The word "frighten" is the standard modern equivalent for the verb, and "fright" or "terror" for the noun.
• It is primarily encountered in historical texts, poetry, or used for deliberate stylistic effect to create an old-fashioned or dramatic tone.

Noun

1. an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

Verb

1. cause fear in
   • The stranger who hangs around the building frightens me
   • Ghosts could never affright her