afraid
afraid
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "afraid" is:
əˈfreɪd
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ə - a reduced vowel sound, similar to the "uh" sound in "about"
ˈfr - a stressed syllable with the consonant sounds "f" and "r"
eɪ - a diphthong, a glide from the "eh" sound to the "ay" sound
d - the consonant sound "d"
Word Form Variations
The word "afraid" is an adjective, so it doesn't have plural or singular forms. It's used to describe a state of being fearful or anxious.
However, you can use it in different grammatical constructions:
As a predicate adjective:
"I am afraid of spiders."
"She was afraid to ask."
In a comparative or superlative form:
"He was more afraid than I was."
"She was the most afraid person in the room."
These are the primary ways to use "afraid" in different contexts.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
afraid (adjective)
Definition: Feeling fear or anxiety.
Synonyms: fearful, scared, frightened, alarmed, terrified
Antonyms: fearless, brave, courageous, bold, dauntless
Example: "I am afraid of heights."
Examples of Use
Literature
Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart": "I became nervous, very, very nervous. I felt a chilling sensation upon my heart—a sensation not altogether anguish, not altogether horror, but a mingling of both, and a nameless dread."
Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice": "She was afraid of his noticing her embarrassment."
News Articles
The New York Times: "Many Americans are afraid of the economic downturn."
The Guardian: "People are afraid to speak out against the government."
Online Publications
BuzzFeed: "I'm afraid of clowns."
The Verge: "Consumers are afraid of the rise of AI."
Entertainment Media and Platforms
Movies: In the horror film "A Quiet Place," the characters are constantly afraid of the creatures that hunt by sound.
TV Shows: In the TV series "Stranger Things," the characters are often afraid of the supernatural forces in their town.
Music: The song "Fear" by Pink Floyd explores the theme of fear and anxiety.
Video Games: In the game "Silent Hill," the player character is constantly afraid of the monsters and the eerie atmosphere.
General Public Discourse
Everyday Conversations: "I'm afraid I can't make it to the party."
Social Media: "I'm afraid of heights, so I'll pass on skydiving."
Public Speeches: "We must not be afraid to challenge the status quo."
These examples demonstrate the wide range of contexts in which the word "afraid" is used, from everyday conversations to high-brow literature and popular culture.
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Afraid
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." — Ambrose Redmoon
"Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." — John D. Rockefeller
"Do not be afraid of mistakes, providing you do not make the same one twice." — Eleanor Roosevelt
"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship." — Louisa May Alcott
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." — Robert F. Kennedy
"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." — Joseph Campbell
"Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin." — Grace Hansen
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." — Plato
"Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try." — Michael Jordan
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." — Muhammad Ali
Etymology
The word "afraid" has its roots in the Old English word "affræged," which meant "frightened" or "alarmed." This word, in turn, came from the verb "affray," which meant "to frighten" or "to disturb."
So, the word "afraid" has been around for a long time, and it's always meant feeling fear or anxiety. The first known use of the word "afraid" was in the 14th century, and it was used to describe a feeling of being scared or alarmed.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Afraid
Fear no evil: To be courageous and not afraid of anything.
Scared stiff: Extremely frightened.
Afraid of one's own shadow: Easily frightened, overly timid.
To fear the worst: To anticipate the worst possible outcome.
To have a fear of heights: To be afraid of high places.
You can also use "afraid" in various phrases:
"I'm afraid I can't..." (polite refusal)
"I'm afraid so..." (confirming a negative)
"I'm afraid not..." (denying a request)
Keep in mind that the usage of "afraid" in idioms is less common compared to synonyms like "fear" and "scared."
Posts Related to Afraid
Source Information
Definition of afraid from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
