See Also: frighten(dictionary)
frighten(dictionary)

frighten (iou)



frighten verb trans. M17.
[from FRIGHT noun + -EN5, superseding FRIGHT verb.]
Throw into a fright; terrify; alarm; scare away, off; drive out of a place etc., into submission etc., by fear or menace.
frighten the horses: see HORSE noun. frighten the life out of: see LIFE noun.
George Eliot If you can't..frighten her off touching things, you must..keep 'em out of her way. W. S. Churchill The activities of the early trade unions frightened the Government into oppressive measures.
frightenable adjective E19.
frightened adjective thrown into a fright, afraid, (foll. by at, of, by, etc.) E18.
frightenedly adverb L19.
frighteningly adverb in a manner or to an extent that frightens M19.