verb

frighten

to frighten, to scare, to terrify

Loud noises frighten the baby.

Loud noises frighten the baby.

Don't frighten the birds away.

Don't frighten the birds away.

((sb./sth.)) to make (sb./sth.) feel fear Loud noises frighten the baby.

Synonyms: scare, terrify, alarm; Antonyms: reassure, comfort, soothe

From Old English 'fyrhtan' (to cause fear). The '-en' suffix often forms verbs.

Think of a 'fright' and then 'en'-abling it, which means to cause fright in someone.

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