afear
1 of 2transitive verb
ə-ˈfir
now dialectal, England
: frighten
afear
2 of 2conjunction
ə-ˈfir
now dialectal, British
: for fear
Word History
Etymology
Transitive verb
Middle English aferen, going back to Old English āfǣran, from ā-, perfective prefix + fǣran "to frighten"
Conjunction
Middle English afere, adverb, "in fear," from a- a- entry 1 + fere fear entry 1
First Known Use
Transitive Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Conjunction
1552, in the meaning defined above