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afeard. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
afeard, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
afeard in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
afeard you have here. The definition of the word
afeard will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
afeard, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From afear + -ed.
Adjective
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 Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :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.
2009, John Hough, Jr., Seen the Glory (Fiction), Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 192:He's afeard of you, Luke. Don't you know that?
Derived terms
Anagrams
Scots
Etymology
From Middle English afered, past participle of aferen, chiefly archaic. The aphetic forms feard, feart, are more common.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /əˈfiːrd/, /əˈfiːrt/
Adjective
afeard (comparative mair afeard, superlative maist afeard)
- (archaic) struck with fear; afraid
Verb
afeard
- (archaic) simple past tense and past participle of afear
References