Affrightment

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sudden feeling of intense fear or terror caused by an unexpected event
2. An abrupt state of alarm or panic resulting from a startling occurrence
3. The experience of being overwhelmed by a quick and strong sense of fear

Etymology: "Affrightment" is a plain combination of two English parts: "affright," a verb meaning to frighten or alarm, plus the suffix "-ment," which turns a verb into a noun naming the state or result of the action. So "affrightment" names the condition of having been frightened, here specifically a sudden, intense terror set off by something unexpected. The verb "affright" is the older and more distinctive piece. Its prefix "a-" is an intensifying element that English inherited from Old English, and it appears in a handful of other verbs such as "aghast" and "abash." The base "fright" has Old English roots, so the whole word is built from native English materials rather than borrowed from Latin or French. Because "affrightment" is a derivative, its meaning follows directly from its parts: "affright" supplies the act of frightening, and "-ment" supplies the noun of result. The sense of suddenness is carried by the context of its use rather than by any special feature of the word itself.

Synonyms: fright, terror, dismay

Antonyms: calm, comfort