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Added 10 October 2026

frighten

/ˈfɹaɪ.tən/ verb

In Latin: terreō Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about frighten at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright.
Avery puts a sheet over her head, pretending to be a ghost to frighten Emily.
To become scared or alarmed.

Origin

From Middle English *frightenen, equivalent to fright + -en.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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