Afraid

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: a=fraid

CIDE DICTIONARY

Afraid, p. a. [OE. afrayed, affraide, p. p. of afraien to affray. See Affray, and cf. Afeard.].

 Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear; apprehensive.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
" This word expresses a less degree of fear than terrified or frightened. It is followed by of before the object of fear, or by the infinitive, or by a dependent clause; as, to be afraid of death. “I am afraid to die.” “I am afraid he will chastise me.” “Be not afraid that I your hand should take.” Shak. I am afraid is sometimes used colloquially to soften a statement; as, I am afraid I can not help you in this matter."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Fearful; timid; timorous; alarmed; anxious.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Afraid, predic.adj.
1 (often foll. by of, or that or lest + clause) alarmed, frightened.
2 (foll. by to + infin.) unwilling or reluctant for fear of the consequences (was afraid to go in).

Idiom

be afraid (foll. by that + clause) colloq. admit or declare with (real or politely simulated) regret (I'm afraid there's none left).

Etymology

ME, past part. of obs. affray (v.) f. AF afrayer f. OF esfreer

THESAURUS

Afraid

abulic, afeared, aghast, anxious, apologetic, apprehensive, averse, backward, cautious, chary, chicken, chickenhearted, coward, cowardly, cowed, craven, daunted, dismayed, edgy, faint, fainthearted, fear-struck, feared, fearful, feeble, feebleminded, frail, frightened, fritter, funking, funky, haunted with fear, henhearted, hesitant, indisposed, infirm, intimidated, invertebrate, jittery, jumpy, lily-livered, loath, milk-livered, milksoppish, milksoppy, mousy, nervous, on edge, overtimid, overtimorous, panic-prone, panic-stricken, panicky, pigeonhearted, pliable, pusillanimous, rabbity, regretful, reluctant, rueful, scared, scared to death, scary, shrinking, shy, sissified, sissy, skittish, soft, sorry, spineless, spooked, terrified, timid, timorous, uneager, unhappy, unmanly, unmanned, unwilling, wary, weak, weak-kneed, weak-minded, weak-willed, weakhearted, white-livered, yellow

ROGET THESAURUS

Afraid

Fear

N fear, timidity, diffidence, want of confidence, apprehensiveness, fearfulness, solicitude, anxiety, care, apprehension, misgiving, feeze, mistrust, suspicion, qualm, hesitation, nervousness, restlessness, inquietude, disquietude, worry, concern, batophobia, heartquake, flutter, trepidation, fear and trembling, perturbation, tremor, quivering, shaking, trembling, throbbing heart, palpitation, ague fit, cold sweat, abject fear, mortal funk, heartsinking, despondency, despair, fright, affright, affrightment, boof alarm, dread, awe, terror, horror, dismay, consternation, panic, scare, stampede (of horses), intimidation, terrorism, reign of terror, bug bear, bugaboo, scarecrow, hobgoblin, nightmare, Gorgon, mormo, ogre, Hurlothrumbo, raw head and bloody bones, fee-faw-fum, bete noire, enfant terrible, alarmist, fearing, frightened, in fear, in a fright, haunted with the fear of, afeard, afraid, fearful, timid, timorous, nervous, diffident, coy, faint- hearted, tremulous, shaky, afraid of one's shadow, apprehensive, restless, fidgety, more frightened than hurt, aghast, awe-stricken, horror-stricken, terror-stricken, panic- stricken, awestruck, awe-stricken, horror-struck, frightened to death, white as a sheet, pale, pale as a ghost, pale as death, pale as ashes, breathless, in hysterics, inspiring fear, alarming, formidable, redoubtable, perilous, portentous, fearful, dread, dreadful, fell, dire, direful, shocking, terrible, terrific, tremendous, horrid, horrible, horrific, ghastly, awful, awe-inspiring, revolting, Gorgonian, in terrorem, Int, angels and ministers of grace defend us!, ante tubam trepidat, horresco referens, one's heart failing one, obstupui steteruntque comae et vox faucibus haesit, a dagger of the mind, expertus metuit, fain would I climb but that I fear to fall, fear is the parent of cruelty, Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire, omnia tuta timens, our fears do make us traitors.