afeard
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Adjective edit
afeard (comparative more afeard, superlative most afeard)
- (archaic or dialectal) Afraid.
- c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
- Pray you pass with your best violence;
I am afeard you make a wanton of me.
- 1876, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XXV, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Hartford, Conn.: The American Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 197:
- I feel as if something’s behind me all the time; and I’m afeard to turn around, becuz maybe there’s others in front a-waiting for a chance.
Derived terms edit
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Scots edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English afered, past participle of aferen, chiefly archaic. The aphetic forms feard, feart, are more common.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
afeard (comparative mair afeard, superlative maist afeard)
Verb edit
afeard
References edit
- “afeard, ppl.adj.” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.