English Explanatory Dictionary

afraid

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.
  2. Regretful, sorry; expressing a reluctance to face an unpleasant situation.
  3. Worried about, feeling concern for, fearing for (someone or something).

Pronunciation

/əˈfɹeɪd/ en-us-afraid.ogg /əˈfɹɛd/

Word forms

afraid more afraid most afraid affrayed 'fraid

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

afeared afraid alarmed anxious apprehensive chicken concerned creeped out fearful frightened frit horrified mortified panicked scared shocked startled terrified timorous worried wary timid sorry

Antonyms

brave calm unafraid

Related words

afear afeared affray fray fear frighten coward

Derived words

afraidly afraidness afraid of one's own shadow fraidy I am afraid of this I'm afraid I'm afraid not I'm afraid so unafraid unafraidly
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