AFRAID

afraid

(adjective) filled with fear or apprehension; “afraid even to turn his head”; “suddenly looked afraid”; “afraid for his life”; “afraid of snakes”; “afraid to ask questions”

afraid

(adjective) filled with regret or concern; used often to soften an unpleasant statement; “I’m afraid I won’t be able to come”; “he was afraid he would have to let her go”; “I’m afraid you’re wrong”

afraid

(adjective) feeling worry or concern or insecurity; “She was afraid that I might be embarrassed”; “terribly afraid of offending someone”; “I am afraid we have witnessed only the first phase of the conflict”

afraid

(adjective) having feelings of aversion or unwillingness; “afraid of hard work”; “afraid to show emotion”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

afraid (comparative more afraid, superlative most afraid)

(usually used predicatively, not attributively, be afraid) Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear.

(colloquial) regretful, sorry

(used with for) Worried about, feeling concern for, fearing for (someone or something).

Usage notes

• (Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear; apprehensive): Afraid expresses a lesser degree of fear than terrified or frightened. It is often followed by the preposition of and the object of fear, or by an infinitive, or by a dependent clause, as shown in the examples above.

Synonyms

• (impressed with fear or apprehension): afeared, alarmed, anxious, apprehensive, fearful, timid, timorous

• (regretful): sorry

• See also afraid

Source: Wiktionary

A*fraid", p. a. Etym: [OE. afrayed, affraide, p. p. of afraien to affray. See Affray, and cf. Afeard.]

Definition: Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear; apprehensive. [Afraid comes after the noun it limits.] "Back they recoiled, afraid." Milton.

Note: This word expresses a less degree of fear than terrified or frightened. It is followed by of before the object of fear, or by the infinitive, or by a dependent clause; as, to be afraid of death. "I am afraid to die." "I am afraid he will chastise me." "Be not afraid that I your hand should take." Shak. I am afraid is sometimes used colloquially to soften a statement; as, I am afraid I can not help you in this matter.

Syn.

– Fearful; timid; timorous; alarmed; anxious.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition