Af*fray" (#), v. t. [p. p. Affrayed.] [OE. afraien, affraien, OF. effreer, esfreer, F. effrayer, orig. to disquiet, put out of peace, fr. L. ex + OHG. fridu peace (akin to E. free). Cf. Afraid, Fray, Frith inclosure.] [Archaic]

1.

To startle from quiet; to alarm.

Smale foules a great heap That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my sleep. Chaucer.

2.

To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.

That voice doth us affray. Shak.

 

© Webster 1913.


Af*fray" (#), n. [OE. afrai, affrai, OF. esfrei, F. effroi, fr. OF. esfreer. See Affray, v. t.]

1.

The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack.

[Obs.]

2.

Alarm; terror; fright.

[Obs.]

Spenser.

3.

A tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl; a fray.

"In the very midst of the affray."

Motley.

4. Law

The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others.

Blackstone.

⇒ A fighting in private is not, in a legal sense, an affray.

Syn. -- Quarrel; brawl; scuffle; encounter; fight; contest; feud; tumult; disturbance.

 

© Webster 1913.