afraid

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Then, suddenly, he knew that he was afraid--afraid for the girl.

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Definitions (11)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. adjective Filled with fear: afraid of ghosts; afraid to die; afraid for his life.
  2. adjective Having feelings of aversion or unwillingness in regard to something: not afraid of hard work; afraid to show emotion.
  3. adjective Filled with regret or concern. Used especially to soften an unpleasant statement: I'm afraid you're wrong.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (2)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • I cursed the church in my heart every time I had to pass it; and I was afraid--afraid On market days, when the peasants came to church, and the bells kept ringing by the hour, my heart was heavy in me, and I could find no rest. —  The Promised Land
  • Or are you afraid--afraid even yet, oh, very chicken-livered lover--that behind the beauty of Naples you may find the filth? —  The History of Sir Richard Calmady A Romance
  • 'Why did you not tell me of this long ago, so that I might share your sorrow I was afraid--afraid to--to speak, Amy,' gasped the bishop, overwhelmed by her extraordinary composure You need not have been afraid, George. —  The Bishop's Secret
  • "And now if your mother and I She took the hint I will leave you," she said It was evident I had not won her gratitude As the door closed behind her I heard a low sound from Mrs. Drainger I am afraid--afraid," she murmured weakly. —  The Best Short Stories of 1919 and the Yearbook of the American Short Story
  • In your heart you believe in me, but you are afraid--afraid of public opinion--afraid of being left out of the teas and card parties which mean more to you than I do. —  The Lady Doc
 

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

aware ·  ashamed ·  anxious ·  glad ·  sick ·  jealous ·  full ·  guilty ·  apprehensive ·  depress ·  fearful ·  angry
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English affraied, past participle of affraien, to frighten, from Old French esfraier, esfreer, to disturb, of Germanic origin; see prī- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle English afraied, etc., past participle of afraien, etc., later English affray, frighten: see affray, v. Not connected with afeard.
 

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/əˈfreɪd/
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