affray — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To startle from quiet; to alarm.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Transitive

2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Transitive

   Examples

   That voice doth us affray.

Noun

1. The act of suddenly disturbing anyone; an assault or attack.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   A 22-year-old man was also arrested in connection with the incident for affray towards attending paramedics.

2. A tumultuous assault or quarrel.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The patient, who had a full view of the skirmish, was so tickled at the affray, that he burst into a laughter, which broke the quinsey, and cured him.

3. The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The affray in the busy marketplace caused great terror and disorder.

4. Terror.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   full of ghastly fright and cold affray

Noun

1. noisy quarrel

   Synonyms

   altercationfracas

   Broader terms

   quarrelwranglerowwordsrun-industup

2. a noisy fight

   Synonyms

   disturbancefrayruffle

   Broader terms

   fightfightingcombatscrap