afraidness

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /əˈfreɪdnəs/ UK /əˈfreɪdnəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
the state of being afraid; fearfulness (rare)

A sudden afraidness gripped the child in the dark.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the state of being afraid;... fearfulness fright timidity apprehension trepidation dread

Opposites

fearlessness boldness courage bravery

Word family

Related forms afraid affray fear

Etymology

From afraid + -ness; afraid is the past participle of the archaic verb affray ('to startle, frighten'), from Old French esfreer ('to disturb'), from Vulgar Latin *exfridare, ultimately from Frankish *frithu ('peace').

esfreer Old French *friþuz Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

# afraidness

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /əˈfreɪdnəs/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈfreɪdnəs/

## Meanings
1. the state of being afraid; fearfulness (rare)

## Examples
- A sudden afraidness gripped the child in the dark.

## Synonyms
- fearfulness
- fright
- timidity
- apprehension
- trepidation
- dread

## Antonyms
- fearlessness
- boldness
- courage
- bravery

## Related Forms
- afraid
- affray
- fear

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: esfreer
- Root: *friþuz

## Etymology
From afraid + -ness; afraid is the past participle of the archaic verb affray ('to startle, frighten'), from Old French esfreer ('to disturb'), from Vulgar Latin *exfridare, ultimately from Frankish *frithu ('peace').

## AI Etymology
Afraidness is a noun meaning "the state of being afraid; fearfulness (rare)". Historically, it is from afraid + -ness; afraid is the past participle of the archaic verb affray ('to startle, frighten'), from Old French esfreer ('to disturb'), from Vulgar Latin *exfridare, ultimately from Frankish *frithu ('peace'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: afraidness is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The modern meaning, "the state of being afraid; fearfulness (rare)", follows the base word through the added English ending. The historical chain links Old French esfreer with Proto-Germanic *friþuz. Close English family members include afraid, affray, and fear.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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