ppl. a. Forms: 1–2 afǽred, 2–5 afered, 3 offearet, offered, 3–6 aferd, 4–6 affered, afferd; 5–6 aferde, afferde; 6 afearde, 6–7 afeard, afear’d; 7 affeard, -’d; 9 afear(e)d. [f. AFEAR v. + -ED. Used more than 30 times by Shakespeare, but rare in literature after 1700, having been supplanted by AFRAID. It survives everywhere in the popular speech, either as afeard, or ’feard; and has again been used in poetry by W. Morris.] Affected with fear or terror; frightened, afraid.
c. 1000. O. E. Gosp., Mark ix. 6. He was afæred mid eʓe.
a. 1090. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1083. And þa wæron þa munecas swiðe áferede of heom.
c. 1230. Ancren Riwle, 8. Hit wolde … hurten ower heorte, & makien ou so offered.
1297. R. Glouc., 388. Of noþing he nas aferd.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Schipm. T., 400. This wyf was not affered ne affrayed.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 290/1. He … was aferd and adrad of the Sepulcre of our lord.
a. 1560. Chaucer’s Test. of Love, I. 276/1. He that is afearde of his clothes, let him daunce naked.
1563. Homilies (1859), 514. Why therefore shouldest thou be afeard of the danger.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 153. I am afeard, the life of Helen, lady, Was foully snatch’d. Ibid. (1605), Macb., V. i. 41. Fye, my Lord, fie! A Souldier and affear’d?
1603. Greenwey, Tacitus’ Ann., IV. xv. (1622), 114. Some came backe and shewed themselues againe, afeard for that they were seene to be afeard.
1664. Pepys, Diary (1879), III. 10. I am sometimes afeard that he do this only in policy.
a. 1689. Popish Pol. Unmaskt, 122, in T.C.P., 23/2. Stand listning now concern’d, and much afear’d.
1868. W. Morris, Earthly Par., I. 23. I was sore afeared At all the cries and wailing that I heard. Ibid., I. 373. She woke and heard A rustling noise, and grew right sore afeard.
