afraid
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
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- (“ex-”) + 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”). Compare also afeard. More at free, friend.
Pronunciation [edit]
Adjective [edit]
afraid (comparative more afraid, superlative most afraid)
- (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.
- (colloquial) regretful, sorry
- I am afraid I can not help you in this matter.
Usage notes [edit]
- (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.
Synonyms [edit]
- (Impressed with fear or apprehension): afeared, alarmed, anxious, apprehensive, fearful, timid, timorous
- (Regretful): sorry
- See also Wikisaurus:afraid
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear; apprehensive
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colloquially, express sorrow
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