Definition of fright

The origin of the word "fright" can be traced back to the Old English word "fregrade," which meant "awe" or "fear." This word evolved over time and was spelled various ways before eventually becoming "frith," which meant "safety" or "protection." As the meaning of "frith" evolved, so too did the meaning of the related words "frithian" and "frithwisan," which meant "protector" or "defender." In Middle English, the word "frith" took on a new sense, meaning "terror" or "dread." This new meaning likely emerged as a way to describe intense emotional reactions to perceived threats. The word "frith" in this context developed several forms over time before finally becoming "fright" in modern English. The first known use of the word "fright" in its modern sense was in the late 15th century. It appeared in a work written by the English poet William Caxton, who spelled it as "frightyng" and defined it as "making fright." Over time, the use of "fright" in its modern sense has become more common, and it is now a commonly used word in English to describe intense feelings of fear or terror. Its origin, however, shows the complexity of the English language and how language evolves over time.