English Explanatory Dictionary

affront

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To insult intentionally, especially openly.
  2. To meet defiantly; to confront.
  3. To meet or encounter face to face.
noun
  1. An open or intentional offense, slight, or insult.
  2. A hostile encounter or meeting.

Pronunciation

/əˈfɹʌnt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-affront.wav en-au-affront.ogg /əˈfrənt/ /əˈfɹʊnt/

Word forms

affront affronts affronting affronted

Etymology

From Middle English afrounten, from Old French afronter (“to hit in the face; to defy”), from Vulgar Latin *affrontare (“to hit in the face”), from Latin ad (“to”) + frōns (“forehead”) (English front). By surface analysis, af- + front.

Synonyms

honor tribute

Related words

effrontery

Derived words

affrontable affrontee affrontery affrontive affrontment
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