afeard

adjective

ə-ˈfird 

variants or afeared

chiefly dialectal

: afraid

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