afeard, -ed, ppl. a.
(əˈfɪəd)
Forms: 1–2 afǽred, 2–5 afered, 3 offearet, offered, 3–6 aferd, 4–6 affered, afferd; 5–6 aferde, afferde; 6 afearde, 6–7 afeard, afear'd; 7 affeard, -'d; 9 afear(e)d.
[f. afear v. + -ed. Used more than 30 times by Shakespeare, but rare in literature after 1700, having been supplanted by afraid. It survives everywhere in the popular speech, either as afeard, or 'feard; and has again been used in poetry by W. Morris.]
Affected with fear or terror; frightened, afraid.
| c 1000 O.E. Gosp. Mark ix. 6 He wæs afæred mid eᵹe. a 1090 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1083 And þa wæron þa munecas swiðe áferede of heom. c 1230 Ancren Riwle 8 Hit wolde..hurten ower heorte, & makien ou so offered. 1297 R. Glouc. 388 Of noþing he nas aferd. c 1386 Chaucer Shipman's T. 400 This wyf was not affered ne affrayed. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 290/1 He..was aferd and adrad of the Sepulcre of our lord. a 1560 Chaucer's Test. of Love i. 276/1 He that is afearde of his clothes, let him daunce naked. 1563 Homilies (1859) 514 Why therefore shouldest thou be afeard of the danger. 1601 Shakes. All's Well v. iii. 153, I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady, Was foully snatch'd. 1605 ― Macb. v. i. 41 Fye, my Lord, fie! A Souldier and affear'd? 1603 Greenwey Tacitus' Ann. iv. xv. (1622) 114 Some came backe and shewed themselues againe, afeard for that they were seene to be afeard. 1664 Pepys Diary (1879) III. 10, I am sometimes afeard that he do this only in policy. a 1689 Popish Pol. Unmaskt 122 in T.C.P. 23/2 Stand listning now concern'd, and much afear'd. 1868 W. Morris Earthly Par. I. 23, I was sore afeared At all the cries and wailing that I heard. Ibid. I. 373 She woke and heard A rustling noise, and grew right sore afeard. |