What does affrightment mean?
Affrightment is a rare, literary noun denoting the condition or experience of being suddenly frightened or alarmed. Unlike the general word fear, it often suggests a sharp, intense shock, as though a person has been struck by terror; in older prose, it can also convey fright or dread more generally. The word is chiefly encountered in archaic, poetic, or formal writing rather than modern conversation, so it carries a deliberately elevated and old-fashioned tone. A typical use treats it as an uncountable state: “She stood in affrightment at the sight of the advancing fire.” Affrightment should not be confused with affright, an archaic verb meaning “to frighten.” Though uncommon, the noun is useful to writers seeking a period flavour or a more emphatic, historically resonant label for terror and alarm.
nounThe state of being frightened or alarmed; sudden fear or terror.
- The condition or experience of being frightened or alarmed, especially as a sudden and intense shock of fear.
"A cold sense of affrightment seized her when the door creaked open."
"A cold sense of affrightment seized her when the door creaked open."
"The soldiers retreated in momentary affrightment at the sound from the dark valley."
Usually treated as an uncountable noun; the plural is grammatical but very rare.
"The old tales evoke several distinct affrightments."
A rare, elegantly severe noun for the sudden shock of fear.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does affrightment come from?
Affrightment was formed in English by adding the noun-forming suffix -ment to affright. Affright comes through Middle English affrighten from Anglo-French afreier, meaning “to frighten,” and is ultimately connected with Latin affridare. It is closely related to affray, which developed through the same Anglo-French source.
How affrightment is actually used
This word is now rare and chiefly literary, archaic, or poetic. It sounds deliberately elevated and old-fashioned, and it usually describes an intense or sudden state of fear rather than ordinary anxiety.
Easily confused with affrightment
Affright is chiefly an archaic verb meaning “to frighten,” whereas affrightment is a noun naming the state of fear or alarm.