What does afeard mean?
'Afeard' means frightened or full of fear, functioning as an older alternative to the everyday word 'afraid'. It descends from Middle English and remains familiar chiefly through literature — Shakespeare used it often — while surviving as a living word in some rural British dialects. Like 'afraid', it is normally predicative, appearing in phrases such as 'don't be afeard' or 'she was afeard of the dark'. Because it sounds distinctly old-fashioned, modern writers reach for it deliberately, whether to evoke a historical setting, capture regional speech, or add a touch of rustic charm. Though rare in contemporary conversation, it is instantly understood by most readers, making it a useful tool for writers who want their characters' fear to sound period-authentic or regionally rooted rather than merely modern.
adjectiveFrightened or filled with fear; an archaic and dialectal form of 'afraid'.
- Frightened or fearful; scared of something (archaic or dialectal).
"The old shepherd was never afeard of the dark, though the wolves howled all night."
"Don't be afeard of the dog — he's friendlier than he looks."
"She admitted she was afeard of what the doctor might say."
Shakespeare put 'afeard' in the mouths of kings and clowns alike — it survives today mostly in rural British dialects, a living fossil of Middle English.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of afeard
'Afeard' comes from Middle English 'afered', the past participle of a verb formed from Old English 'āfǣran', meaning to frighten, itself built on the Germanic root underlying 'fear'. It developed alongside 'afraid', which arose from the same participial pattern, and the two coexisted for centuries. Shakespeare's frequent use kept 'afeard' prominent into the early modern period, after which it gradually retreated into regional dialect use while 'afraid' became the standard form.
How afeard is actually used
'Afeard' is archaic in general modern usage but persists in some regional British dialects and appears frequently in older literature, notably Shakespeare. It functions like 'afraid': predicative rather than attributive ('he was afeard', not usually 'an afeard man'). Using it today lends a deliberately rustic, historical, or literary flavour.
Easily confused with afeard
'Afraid' is the standard modern word for feeling fear, while 'afeard' is an older, now largely dialectal variant meaning the same thing.