Search the Dictionary

loud, sharp, shrill sound or cry, as do some birds and beasts; to scream, as in a sudden fright, in horror or anguish. It was the owl that shrieked. Shak. At this she shrieked aloud; the mournful train Echoed her grief. Dryden.

m fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress. What happier natures shrink at with affright, The hard inhabitant contends is right. Pope. They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task. Jowett (Thucyd.)

Easily frightened; timid; as, a shy bird. The horses of the army . . . were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting. Swift.

ute stillness. I saw and heared; for such a numerous host Fled not in silence through the frighted deep. Milton.

Easily frightened; timorous; shy; untrustworthy; as, a skittish colt. "A restiff, skittish jade." L'Estrange.

To cry out; to scream or cry violently, as a woman frightened, or a child in anger or distress; as, the infant squalled.

A wild, headlong scamper, or running away, of a number of animals; usually caused by fright; hence, any sudden flight or dispersion, as of a crowd or an army in consequence of a panic. She and her husband would join in the general stampede. W. Black.

used by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion. The fright awakened Arcite with a start. Dryden.

To excite by sudden alarm, surprise, or apprehension; to frighten suddenly and not seriously; to alarm; to surprise. The supposition, at least, that angels do sometimes assume bodies need not startle us. Locke.

, surf; as, a surfy shore. Scarce had they cleared the surfy waves That foam around those frightful caves. Moore.

To order; to request; to command. He told her not to be frightened. Dickens.

; dreadful; formidable. Prudent in peace, and terrible in war. Prior. Thou shalt not be affrighted at them; for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. Deut. vii. 21.

To alarm or shock with fear; to frighten. When ye shall hear of wars . . . be not terrified. Luke xxi. 9.

Extreme fear; fear that agitates body and mind; violent dread; fright. Terror seized the rebel host. Milton.

As adverb: To such a degree; so; as, he was that frightened he could say nothing. [Archaic or in illiteral use.] All that, everything of that kind; all that sort. With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that. Pope. The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The man's the gowd [gold] for a'that. Burns. -- For that. See under F…

Wanting courage to meet danger; easily frightened; timorous; not bold; fearful; shy. Poor is the triumph o'er the timid hare. Thomson.

Easily frightened; timorous. [Written also timersome.] [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

sirable; to allure by some bait. [Written also toll.] Whatever you observe him to be more frighted at then he should, tole him on to by insensible degrees, till at last he masters the difficulty.

The act of touching, or the state of being touched; contact. Their touch affrights me as a serpent's sting. Shak.

to shiver; to shudder; -- said of a person or an animal. I tremble still with fear. Shak. Frighted Turnus trembled as he spoke. Dryden.