afraid

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Derived terms 1.3.4 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Middle English affrayed, affraied, past participle of afraien (“‘to affray’”), from Anglo-Norman afrayer, from Old French esfreer, effreer "to disturb, break the peace" from es- "ex-" + freer "to secure" from Frankish *friðu of Germanic origin akin to Old High German fridu "peace", Old English frið, frēod "peace"; German Friede "peace" (see also afeard).

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈfɹeɪd/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -eɪd

[edit] Adjective

afraid (comparative more afraid, superlative most afraid)

1. (usually used predicatively, not attributively) Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.

   He is afraid of death.

   He is afraid to die.

   He is afraid that he will die.

2. (colloquially) regretful, sorry

   I am afraid I can not help you in this matter.

[edit] Usage notes

• (Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear; apprehensive): Afraid expresses a lesser degree of fear than terrified or frightened. It is often followed by the preposition of and the object of fear, or by an infinitive, or by a dependent clause, as shown in the examples above.

[edit] Synonyms

• (Impressed with fear or apprehension): afeared, alarmed, anxious, apprehensive, fearful, timid, timorous

• (Regretful): sorry

[edit] Derived terms

• 'fraid
• afraidness
• I'm afraid not
• I'm afraid so
• unafraid

[edit] Translations