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Webster 1913 Edition


Fright

Fright

(frīt)
,
Noun.
[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.
Syn. – Alarm; terror; consternation. See
Alarm
.

Fright

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp.
Frighted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
.
Frighting
.]
[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.
Syn. – To affright; dismay; daunt; intimidate.

Webster 1828 Edition


Fright

FRIGHT

,
Noun.
frite. [Gr. to fear, that is, to shrink or shiver.]
Sudden and violent fear; terror; a passion excited by the sudden appearance of danger. It expresses more than fear, and is distinguished from fear and dread, by its sudden invasion and temporary existence; fright being usually of short duration, whereas fear and dread may be long continued.

FRIGHT

,

Definition 2024


fright

fright

English

Noun

fright (countable and uncountable, plural frights)

  1. 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.
  2. 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

Translations

Verb

fright (third-person singular simple present frights, present participle frighting, simple past and past participle frighted)

  1. (archaic) to frighten