frighten, v.
(ˈfraɪt(ə)n)
[f. fright n. + -en5. A late formation, which has taken the place of the earlier fright v.]
a. trans. To throw into a fright; to terrify; = fright v. 2.
| 1666 Pepys Diary 4 Sept., Which at first did frighten people more than any thing. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. I. x. 280 But even that was a Voyage enough to frighten us, considering our scanty Provisions. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest x, I am sorry I frightened you so last night. 1842 Abdy Water Cure (1843) 206 These lunatics..never frighten women or children. 1883 Froude Short Stud. IV. i. vi. 65 In fearing that England would go into schism the pope was frightened by a shadow. |
b. With complement: To scare into, out of, off (adv. and prep.), etc.
| 1691 W. Nicholls Answ. Naked Gospel 47 They were frightened to it by the Arms and Threats of the Souldiers. 1700 S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 278 [They] thought by Fire and Sword..to frighten him out of his Kingdom. 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World (1757) 116 They frighten them into the most laborious submission. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life xxi. xv, Paying handsomely..to be canted out of your saddle, and frightened out of your wits. 1861 Geo. Eliot Silas M. xiv. 261 If you can't bring your mind to frighten her off touching things, you must..keep 'em out of her way. 1883 Froude Short. Stud. IV. ii. i. 168 The French Revolution had frightened all classes out of advanced ways of thinking. 1890 Spectator 1 Nov. 583/1 Manufacturers..are frightened to death at the..rise in prices. 1891 Daily News 23 Nov. 2/6 There are no stocks to frighten down prices. 1892 Law Times XCII. 394/2 Evidently the idea was to frighten and terrorise the lady into paying. 1904 L. T. Meade Love Triumphant iv. x, I frightened those fellows off, didn't I, Beaufort? |
Hence ˈfrightenable a., capable of being frightened.
| 1812 Coleridge Lit. Rem. (1836) I. 362 Man as..a frightenable being. 1850 F. Trollope Petticoat Govt. 32 You do not look so frightenable as my Aunt does. |