fright Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
    fear; fearfulness.
  2. verb cause fear in
    frighten; scare; affright.
    • The stranger who hangs around the building frightens me
    • Ghosts could never affright her

WordNet

Fright noun
Etymology
OE. frigt, freyht, AS. fyrhto, fyrhtu; akin to OS. forhta, OHG. forhta, forahta, G. furcht, Dan. frygt, Sw. fruktan, Goth. faúrhtei fear, faúrhts timid.
Definitions
  1. A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.
  2. Anything strange, ugly or shocking, producing a feeling of alarm or aversion. Colloq. Syn. -- Alarm; terror; consternation. See Alarm.
Fright transitive verb
Etymology
OE. frigten to fear, frighten, AS. fyrhtan to frighten, forhtian to fear; akin to OS. forhtian, OHG. furihten, forahtan, G. fürchten, Sw. frukta, Dan. frygte, Goth. faurhtjan. See Fright, n., and cf. Frighten.
Wordforms
imperfect Frighted; present participle & verbal noun Frighting
Definitions
  1. To alarm suddenly; to shock by causing sudden fear; to terrify; to scare.
    Nor exile or danger can fright a brave spirit. Dryden.
    Syn. -- To affright; dismay; daunt; intimidate.

Webster 1913