Nearby Words
noun
1.
a personally offensive act or word; deliberate act or display of disrespect; intentional slight; insult: an affront to the king.
2.
an offense to one's dignity or self-respect.
verb (used with object)
3.
to offend by an open manifestation of disrespect or insolence: His speech affronted all of us.
4.
to make ashamed or confused; embarrass.
5.
Archaic. to front; face; look on.
6.
Obsolete. to meet or encounter face to face; confront.
:10
:09
:08
:07
:06
:05
:04
:03
:02
:01
Affront
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
| to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle. |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English afrounten < Middle French af(f)ronter to strike in the face < Vulgar Latin *affrontāre, derivative of Latin phrase ad frontem at or toward the forehead (as the seat of one's feelings or dignity). See ad-, front
1300–50; Middle English afrounten < Middle French af(f)ronter to strike in the face < Vulgar Latin *affrontāre, derivative of Latin phrase ad frontem at or toward the forehead (as the seat of one's feelings or dignity). See ad-, front
Related forms
af·front·ed·ly, adverb
af·front·ed·ness, noun
af·front·er, noun
af·front·ing·ly, adverb
re·af·front, noun, verb (used with object)
EXPANDun·af·front·ed, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms
1. impertinence; contumely, scorn; indignity, abuse, outrage. See insult. 3. insult, slight, abuse.
1. impertinence; contumely, scorn; indignity, abuse, outrage. See insult. 3. insult, slight, abuse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To affront
Example Sentences
- Fairbanks's debut poems affront readers with sordid scenarios and elliptical literary fragments.
- Its time to affront this problem seriously.
- Having bones and sacred objects in storage in museums is an affront to Native beliefs.
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
affront
early 14c., from O.Fr. afronter "to face, confront," lit. "to strike on the forehead," from L.L. affrontare "to strike against," from L. ad frontem "to the face," from frons (gen. frontis) "forehead." The noun is c.1600, from the verb.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.