[f. the vb. Cf. Fr. affront (16th c. in Littré).]
1. An insult offered to the face; a word or act expressive of intentional disrespect; a purposed indignity; an open insult or outrage; esp. in the phrases To put an affront upon, offer an affront to.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, IV. i. 102. Whereat no man ought to be offended, or take it for any affront.
1671. Milton, P. R., III. 160. Oft have they violated The temple, oft the law with foul affronts.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 62. Though they had offered great affronts to his Person and proceedings.
1855. Macaulay, Fredk. Gt., 59. To resent his affronts was perilous.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. App. 630. It was certainly something to have put an open affront upon the Eastern king.
2. Offence to one’s dignity or modesty, felt indignity.
1662. Dryden, Sat. Dutch, 27. To one well-born the affront is worse and more, When he’s abused and baffled by a boor.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., II. xliv. 16. These women … look upon this … as the greatest disgrace and affront that can happen to them.
1769. Junius Lett., xxxv. 160. Such an object as it would be an affront to you to name.
1784. Cowper, Lett., March 29, Wks. 1876, 164. Candidates are creatures not very susceptible of affronts.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., 65. The unexpected, and, as she deemed it, indelible affront, which had been brought upon her dignity.
Mod. adage. ‘Affronts are as they are taken.’
† 3. Hostile encounter, attack, assault. Obs.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. 229. [They] that were not slaine in the first affront of the entrance into the citie.
1671. Milton, Samson, 529. And dreaded On hostile ground, none daring my affront.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 103. He met with no other affront from Apollyon.
† 4. A position of hostility or defiance; concr. an obstacle. Obs.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 94. Even Ministers are often great affronts in the way of poore soules.
1644. Heylin, Life of Laud, I. 45. His Studies in Divinity, in the exercise whereof he met with some affronts and oppositions.
1648. Symmons, Vind. Chas. I., 6. To suffer it to continue in affront to their general ordinance.
† 5. An encounter or meeting generally; accost. Obs.
1614. J. Cooke, Green’s Tu quoq. (Dodsl.), VII. 95. This I must caution you of, in your affront or salute, never to move your hat.
1632. Heywood, Iron Age, I. II. i. 294. Whom we wil giue a braue and proud affront.
