affrightment

A1F4F4R1I1G2H4T1M3E1N1T1

noun

The action of frightening or terrifying; intimidation.

Scrabble 24
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Meanings

nounaffrightment (uncountable)
  1. obsoleteuncountableThe action of frightening or terrifying; intimidation.
  2. obsoleteuncountableA cause of fear.
  3. archaicuncountableFright; fear; alarm; the fact or state of being frightened.

    I [looked] at him, when I could glance at him, with disgust little short of affrightment.

    1748, [Samuel Richardson], chapter 7, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume I, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC
    1 more example

    Passionate words or blows from the tutor, fill the child's mind with terrour and affrightment; which immediately takes it wholly up, and leaves no room for other impressions.

    1693, [John Locke], “(please specify the section number)”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC

Origin

From affright + -ment.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

affrightment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/affrightment

MLA

“affrightment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/affrightment. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “affrightment,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/affrightment.

Source: affrightment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.