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Afraid

//əˈfɹeɪd// adj

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear. predicative

    "He is afraid of death."

  2. 2
    Regretful, sorry; expressing a reluctance to face an unpleasant situation. predicative

    "I am afraid I cannot help you in this matter."

  3. 3
    Worried about, feeling concern for, fearing for (someone or something). predicative
Adjective
  1. 1
    filled with fear or apprehension wordnet
  2. 2
    filled with regret or concern; used often to soften an unpleasant statement wordnet
  3. 3
    feeling worry or concern or insecurity wordnet
  4. 4
    having feelings of aversion or unwillingness wordnet

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”). By surface analysis, affray + -ed. Compare also afeard. More at free, friend.

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