Where does the word "afraid" come from and What does it mean?

Scarcely known nowadays, except in stories laid in olden times, is the verb affray.

Its ancient meaning was “to startle out of one’s rest,” as by a clap of thunder or other sharp noise.

That is, one who was affrayed was one who was alarmed. From alarm to fright was a natural development in meaning, so affrayed, in the sense of “frightened,” had come to be common usage in the fourteenth century.

where does the word afraid come from and what does it mean scaled

Thanks to lack of uniform spelling before the eighteenth century, it has come down to us in the form afraid.

Are Elephants Really Afraid of Mice? Elephants are the largest living land animal, and they have no reason to fear mice. In fact, elephants do not fear mice. A healthy elephant does not fear any animals. Danger comes only…
Why Are Some People Afraid To Eat Rare Bloody Steaks? Just smile. Anyone who thinks steaks contain blood, well, they're wrong. They're not necessarily wrong in their preference for eating well-done steaks, although many would argue that such behavior should be declared a…
What does the word “gauntlet” mean and Where does the word gauntlet come from? During the Thirty Years' War, which lasted from 1618 to 1648, the English forces observed a form of disciplinary punishment used among their German allies. It looked highly effective, so it was not…
What does the word incubus (succubus) mean and Where does the word “incubus” come from? In the Middle Ages any woman who gave birth to a witch or sorceress was supposed to have been visited, in her sleep, by a male demon or evil spirit. The name given…
Where does the word “Toilet” come from and What does the word Toilet mean in French? The word "toilet" has had a rather curious development in the little more than four hundred years it has been in the language. Its origin was the French toilette, the diminutive of wile,…
What Does the Word “Clock” Mean in French and Where Did the Word For a Large Timepiece Come From? Like cloche in French, the word clock literally means bell. When the large mechanical clock was invented in the fourteenth century it didn't tell time with a face and hands, but rather by…

Where does the word “afraid” come from and What does it mean?

Related Posts

About Karen Hill