afraid — feeling fear or anxiety; frightened
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: feeling fear or anxiety; frightened
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈfreɪd/
Example Sentences
- I'm afraid your pizza delivery will be late because the driver got lost in the maze-like apartment complex.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions during the interview.
- My cat is afraid of cucumbers for some mysterious reason.
afraid
ADJECTIVE[/əˈfreɪd/]
feeling fear or anxiety; frightened
The little boy is afraid of the thunder crashing outside his bedroom window.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'afrayd', derived from Old French 'afrayé', past participle of 'affrayer' meaning 'to frighten'. The Old French term likely comes from a Germanic source related to 'fray', meaning to break or shatter, metaphorically applied to one's composure.
Breakdown
a- (to, toward) + fray (frighten, break) + -ed (past participle/adjective suffix) = afraid
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I'm afraid your pizza delivery will be late because the driver got lost in the maze-like apartment complex.”
“Don't be afraid to ask questions during the interview.”
“My cat is afraid of cucumbers for some mysterious reason.”
“I'm afraid I can't attend the meeting tomorrow.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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