affrightfuladj.
/əˈfrʌɪtf(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /əˈfraɪtf(ə)l/ Now rare (archaic in later use).† 2. Full of fright; fearful, timid. Obsolete. rare.
1. That causes fright or terror; frightening, terrifying.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > quality of terribleness > [adjective]
eislichc888
eyesfulOE
awfulc1175
smarta1200
ferlya1225
sternc1275
grisea1300
uglya1300
dreadfula1325
fell?c1335
stout1338
perilousc1380
terriblec1400
ghastfulc1449
timorous1455
epouventable1477
bedreadc1485
dreadablec1490
dreadc1540
buggisha1555
dreaded1556
monster-like1561
dire1567
scareful1567
terrifying1577
scary1582
direful1583
affrighting1592
dismal1594
affrightful1603
diral1606
tirable1607
frighting1619
scaring1641
affrighteninga1651
formidolous1656
terrific1667
terrifical1677
atrocious1733
terrorful1789
orful1845
lurid1850
terrorsome1890
turble1893
timorsome1894
like the wrath of God1936
1603 M. Drayton Barrons Wars v. lxviii.121 His affrightfull ghost, with hayre disheueld, and a gastly face.
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. ii. 68 Spectres, Bug-bears, or Affrightful Apparitions.
1693 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) III. 157 That island has frequent tremblings since the great earthquake, which is very affrightfull to the inhabitants.
a1731 J. Hughes tr. Claudian in Misc. in Verse & Prose (1737) 170 Hydra haunted the Lernæan Pool: At this affrightful Monster not alone A narrow Pool and single Island groan.
1800 S. T. Coleridge tr. F. Schiller Death Wallenstein i. ii. 9 Here every coming hour broods into life Some new affrightful monster.
1886 Judy 1 Sept. 104/2 The affrightful figure was merely a reflection of himself in a large glass mirror.
1918 Poetry Rev. Sept. 276 If this particular poem had been inspired by opium, we might expect to find not only affrightful but distorted imagery.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [adjective]
arghc885
unboldc897
bletheOE
feyOE
frightfula1325
fearedc1330
fearfulc1374
ferdfula1382
palea1393
ferdya1400
ghastful1422
tremblingc1430
timorousc1450
cremeuse1477
craintive1490
cocklea1500
sheepish?1518
awfula1522
meticulousc1540
timidc1550
sheepa1556
tremebundc1560
timorsomec1600
tremulous1611
pigeon-hearteda1625
affrightful1631
formidolous1656
pavid1656
timidous1658
unsupported1694
tender-nosed1700
scary1773
pippin-hearted1809
kitten-hearted1831
funky1835
misventurous1849
milksoppish1852
tender-footed1854
fearsome1863
scare1885
milksoppy1886
milksopping1888
cotton wool1909
1631 G. Markham Countrey Contentments (ed. 4) ii. i. xiv. 90 Fishes of eager bit, most foolish, least afrightful, and soonest deceiued.
1677 R. Gilpin Dæmonol. Sacra ii. ix. 399 Satan..doth endeavour..to terrifie them to the utmost degree of affrightful Amazement.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1603