Affrightment

/əˈfraɪtmənt/ noun

Definition

The state of being frightened; extreme fear or terror; the act of frightening someone.

Etymology

From 'affright' (to frighten) plus '-ment' suffix denoting a state or condition. This archaic noun form expresses the emotional result of being suddenly and severely scared.

Kelly Says

Medieval texts used 'affrightment' to describe the psychological impact of supernatural encounters—it wasn't just momentary fear but a deeper state of being disturbed, making it perfect for descriptions of ghost encounters and portents.

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