Affray

English

Noun

Affray (plural Affrays)

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.

Verb

Affray (third-person singular simple present Affrays, present participle Affraying, simple past and past participle Affrayed)

1. To startle from quiet; to alarm.
2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.

Synonyms

fray, brawl, alarm, terror, fright, fight, battle, controversy, conflict, combat, quarrel, struggle, contest, riot, fracas.

Etymology

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”), of Germanic origin, from Frankish *friþu (“security, peace”), from Proto-Germanic *friþuz (“peace”), from Proto-Germanic base *frijōnan (“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.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪ