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Fright vs Affright - What's the difference?

fright | affright |

As nouns the difference between fright and affright

is that fright is a state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm while affright is great fear, terror, fright.

As verbs the difference between fright and affright

is that fright is to frighten while affright is to terrify, to frighten, to inspire fright.

fright

English

Noun

(wikipedia fright)
  • A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.
  • * 1994 , (Stephen Fry), (The Hippopotamus) Chapter 2:
  • With a bolt of fright he remembered that there was no bathroom in the Hobhouse Room. He leapt along the corridor in a panic, stopping by the long-case clock at the end where he flattened himself against the wall.
  • Anything strange, ugly or shocking, producing a feeling of alarm or aversion.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I:
  • Her maids were old, and if she took a new one,
    You might be sure she was a perfect fright ;
    She did this during even her husband's life
    I recommend as much to every wife.

    Derived terms

    * fright wig

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) to frighten
  • affright

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • great fear, terror, fright
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to terrify, to frighten, to inspire fright
  • * Shakespeare
  • Dreams affright our souls.
  • * Milton
  • A drear and dying sound / Affrights the flamens at their service quaint.

    Synonyms

    * See also