Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In Arabian myth., a powerful evil demon or monster. Also written afreet.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Moham. Myth.) A powerful evil jinnee, demon, or monstrous giant.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative spelling of ifrit.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word afrit.

Examples

  • We've seen an afrit in an episode of 'The X-Files'.

    Archive 2009-05-03 Toby O'B 2009

  • From information in The Arabian Nights, marid seem to be the strongest form of jinn, followed by afrit, and then the rest of the jinn.

    The Tail Section » Season 4 Lineup and The Possible End of the Series! 2007

  • A column of black smoke marched into the sky, growing taller and taller, mingling with the smoke closer at hand: some released afrit joining its fellows.

    The Fortress of the Pearl Moorcock, Michael, 1939- 1989

  • The Omdeh, or headman, of the village of Chaghb, not far from Luxor, submitted an official complaint to the police a short time ago against an _afrit_ or devil which was doing much mischief to him and his neighbours, snatching up oil-lamps and pouring the oil over the terrified villagers, throwing stones at passers-by, and so forth.

    The Treasury of Ancient Egypt Miscellaneous Chapters on Ancient Egyptian History and Archaeology Arthur E. P. B. Weigall

  • Hassan in frequently going to sleep in one town, to awake in another far distant, but without the benighted Oriental's surprise at the transfer, the afrit who performed this prodigy being a steam-engine, and the magician it obeyed the human mind.

    Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 11, No. 23, February, 1873 Various

  • It was not that the old afrit, the uncle of the Emîr, had beaten him, nor that his back was sore, but that the Emîr himself had refused his services, which so appalled him.

    The Valley of the Kings Marmaduke William Pickthall 1905

  • They said the afrit in this case always appeared at the corner of the Government garden, which is on the left of the road, and about five or six hundred yards from the bridge.

    Three Months in the Soudan 1885

  • In our Shoobra house, the gardener would not sleep alone downstairs, because he said an afrit (devil) walked about the hall at night.

    Three Months in the Soudan 1885

  • A cat less agile than the rest of his species had been known to entangle himself in the little swing window, and to hang there all the night, sending forth unearthly caterwaulings, to the unspeakable terror of Miss Wendover's guest, unfamiliar with the mechanism of the room, and wondering what breed of Hampshire demon or afrit was thus making night hideous.

    The Golden Calf 1875

  • It will appear below that it has been a terrible afrit, a demon which promised service but which became a master.

    Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals William Graham Sumner 1875

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • See also afreet

    February 10, 2008

  • Or efreet.

    February 12, 2008

  • ". . . talking to a wise king with the face of a wounded animal and the fantastic tongue of an afrit, . . ."
    Philip Hensher, The Mulberry Empire</i> (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2002)

    October 11, 2015