afraid

Forms

Comparative: more afraid
Superlative: most afraid

Definitions

1.Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.
- I’m not afraid of telling / to tell you the truth: I'm reluctant to go in you car because I’m too afraid of crashing.
- He is afraid of the future.
- He is afraid to ask her out.
2.Regretful, sorry; expressing a reluctance to face an unpleasant situation.
- I am afraid I cannot help you in this matter.
3.Worried about, feeling concern for, fearing for (someone or something).
- She was afraid to travel alone.
- She is afraid of her own shadow.
- I am afraid they don't get along very well.

Frequency

Overall

Common· #1221

By learning goal

Everyday conversation: Common
General reading & writing: Uncommon
Academic: Rare
Literature: Uncommon

Etymology

From Middle English affrayed, affraied, past participle of afraien (“to affray”), from Anglo-Norman afrayer (“to terrify, disquiet, disturb”), from Old French effreer, esfreer (“to disturb, remove the peace from”), from es- (“out”) + freer (“to secure, secure the peace”), from Frankish *friþu (“security, peace”), from Proto-Germanic *friþuz (“peace”), from Proto-Germanic *frijōną (“to free; to love”), from Proto-Indo-European *prāy-, *prēy- (“to like, love”).