afeard

adjective

ə-ˈfird 

variants or afeared

chiefly dialectal

: afraid: such as

a

: filled with fear or apprehension

Mabel said she woke up from that dream in the wee hours of the morning powerfully afeared since the dream had the taste and feel of real life.

—Randall Kenan

b

: filled with concern or regret over an unwanted situation

I am afeared, / Being in night, all this is but a dream, / Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.

—William Shakespeare

Word History

Etymology

Middle English afered, going back to Old English āfǣred, past participle of āfǣran "to frighten," from ā-, perfective prefix + fǣran "to frighten" — more at abide, fear entry 2

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above