Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

affray

 - 3 dictionary results

af⋅fray

  [uh-frey]
Use affray in a Sentence
–noun
1. a public fight; a noisy quarrel; brawl.
2. Law. the fighting of two or more persons in a public place.
–verb (used with object)
3. Archaic. to frighten.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME < AF afray (n.), afrayer (v.), OF esfrei (n.), esfreer (v.) < VL *exfridāre to break the peace, equiv. to ex- ex- 1 + -frid- peace (< Gmc; cf. G Friede) + -āre inf. suffix

Synonyms:
1. row, fracas, altercation, melee.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To affray
af·fray   (ə-frā')   
n.  A noisy quarrel or brawl.
tr.v.   af·frayed, af·fray·ing, af·frays Archaic
To frighten.

[Middle English, from Old French effrei, esfrei, from esfraier, esfreer, to disturb; see prī- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: af·fray
Pronunciation: &-'frA
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French affrai effrai fright, disturbance, from affraier effreer to terrify
: a fight between two or more people in a public place that disturbs the peace
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see affray on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way