▪ I. † aˈfear, v. Obs. or dial.
Forms: 1 afǽr-an, 2 afæren, 2–3 afer-en, 3–6 afer-e, affer-e, 6 affeare.
[f. a- prefix 1 intensive + fǽr-an to frighten: see fear. For the late spelling af-fear see af- 2. The vb. either in its full form, or aphetized to 'fear, is still common in the dialects: see also afeard.]
To frighten, terrify, or make afraid.
| a 1000 Ags. Metr. Ps. lxxxix. 10 Þæt heo [the spider] afære fleóᵹan on nette. 1205 Layamon 25554 Þ ene king hit a-uerde [later text a-ferde]. 1297 R. Glouc. 22 Þat folc forte a-fere. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B xviii. 430 And it [i.e. the cross] a-fereth the fende. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 742 Þou ne afferest me noȝt so! 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle iv. xxx. (1483) 80 Hornes or grennyng teeth to aferen fooles. 1496 Dives & Pauper (W. de Worde) v. xix. 222 Clerkes may bere wepen..to afere theues. 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. iii. 20 And ghastly bug does greatly them affeare. |
▪ II. † aˈfear, afere, afeir, adv. and conj., prop. phr. Obs. or dial.
[a prep.1 in + fear.]
A. adv. In fear.
| c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 190 Ever he is afere To doon amys. 1460 Pol. Rel. & Love Poems (1866) 60, I am defied and putte a-ferre. |
B. conj. For fear, lest. (Still used in Scotl.)
| 1552 Lyndesay Papyngo (1866) 232 Afeir that he be nocht offendit. |