fright

Noun · Verb
US[frahyt]/fraɪt/1 syllable
Synonyms: fearfearfulnessfrightenscareaffright

Open English WordNet

Noun (1)

  1. an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)Synonyms: fearfearfulnessType of emotionKinds panic, horror, alarm, apprehension, frisson, timidity, hysteria, stage fright, intimidation, scare +1 moreParts cold sweatAttribute of afraid, unafraid

Verb (1)frighted, frighting

  1. cause fear in“The stranger who hangs around the building frightens me”“Ghosts could never affright her”Synonyms: frightenscareaffrightMore general stimulate, shakeMore specific dismay, intimidate, awe, terrify, consternate, spook, bluff, scare the bejesusCauses fear, dread
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ephemeranoun

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Fright (frīt), noun

Origin: OE. frigt, freyht, AS. fyrhto, fyrhtu; akin to OS. forhta, OHG. forhta, forahta, G. furcht, Dan. frygt, Sw. fruktan, Goth. faúrhtei fear, faúrhts timid.

1. A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.

2. Anything strange, ugly or shocking, producing a feeling of alarm or aversion. colloquial

Synonyms: Alarm; terror; consternation. See Alarm.

Fright transitive verb [past tense Frighted; present participle & verbal noun. Frighting.]

Origin: OE. frigten to fear, frighten, AS. fyrhtan to frighten, forhtian to fear; akin to OS. forhtian, OHG. furihten, forahtan, G. fürchten, Sw. frukta, Dan. frygte, Goth. faurhtjan. See Fright, noun, and cf. Frighten.

To alarm suddenly; to shock by causing sudden fear; to terrify; to scare.

Nor exile or danger can fright a brave spirit.— John Dryden

Synonyms: To affright; dismay; daunt; intimidate.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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