Affray

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪ

Origin

From Middle English afraien ("to terrify, frighten"), from Anglo-Norman afrayer ("to terrify, disquiet, disturb"), from Old French effreer, esfreer ("to disturb, remove the peace from"), from es- ("ex-") + freer ("to secure, secure the peace"), from Frankish *friþu ("security, peace"), from Proto-Germanic *friþuz ("peace"), from Proto-Germanic *frijōną ("to free; to love"), from Proto-Indo-European *prāy-, *prēy- ("to like, love"). Cognate with Old High German fridu ("peace"), Old English friþ ("peace, frith"), Old English frēod ("peace, friendship"), German Friede ("peace"). Compare also afear. More at free, friend.

Full definition of affray

Noun

1. The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack.
2. A tumultuous assault or quarrel.
3. The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others.The affray in the busy marketplace caused great terror and disorder.

Synonyms

• fray, brawl.
• alarm, terror, fright.

Verb

1. To startle from quiet; to alarm.
• ChaucerSmale foules a great heap
  That had afrayed affrayed me out of my sleep.
2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.
• ShakespeareThat voice doth us affray.