Added 9 October 2026
afraid
/əˈfɹeɪd/ adjective
In Latin: metuēns, timidus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about afraid at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Filled with fear or apprehension.
afraid even to turn his head
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Filled with regret or concern; used often to soften an unpleasant statement.
I'm afraid I won't be able to come
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Feeling worry or concern or insecurity.
She was afraid that I might be embarrassed
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)