frighten Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb cause fear in
    scare; fright; affright.
    • The stranger who hangs around the building frightens me
    • Ghosts could never affright her
  2. verb drive out by frightening

WordNet

Fright"en transitive verb
Etymology
See Fright, v. t.
Wordforms
>imperfect pos> Frightened present participle & verbal noun Frightening
Definitions
  1. To disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm or fright; to affright; to terrify.
    More frightened than hurt. Old Proverb.

Webster 1913