afraid

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   feeling worry or concern or insecurity

   I was afraid that I might be embarrassed.

2. 2
   adj

   having feelings of aversion or unwillingness

   afraid of hard work

3. 3
   adj

   Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.

   He is afraid of death.

4. 4
   adj

   Regretful, sorry; expressing a reluctance to face an unpleasant situation.

   I am afraid I cannot help you in this matter.

5. 5
   adj

   filled with fear or apprehension

6. 6
   adj

   filled with regret or concern

7. 7
   adj

   Worried about, feeling concern for, fearing for (someone or something).

Etymology

From Middle English affrayed, affraied, past participle of afraien (“to affray”), from Anglo-Norman afrayer (“to terrify, disquiet, disturb”), from Old French effreer, esfreer (“to disturb, remove the peace from”), from es- (“out”) + freer (“to secure, secure the peace”), from Frankish *friþu (“security, peace”), from Proto-Germanic *friþuz (“peace”), from Proto-Germanic *frijōną (“to free; to love”), from Proto-Indo-European *prāy-, *prēy- (“to like, love”). By surface analysis, affray + -ed. Compare also afeard. More at free, friend.