fright
UK[fraɪt]US[fraɪt]
n
A sudden intense feeling of fear.
n
Something that causes such a feeling; a shock.
Etymology
The word 'fright' has a direct Germanic lineage, descending from the Old English 'fyrhto'. This Old English term is related to the Old High German 'forhta', both sharing the core meaning of fear. The word's journey bypasses Latin or Greek, being a native English term that has consistently denoted a state of sudden alarm or terror. Its modern spelling and pronunciation simplified over time, but its essential meaning as a sudden, sharp fear has remained remarkably stable from its ancient Germanic roots.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It originates from the Old English 'fyrhto' or 'fyrhtu', meaning fear or dread. The functional role is that of a noun.
Examples
The loud crash gave her a terrible fright.
He turned white with fright when he saw the figure in the dark.
The old horror movie is more of a silly amusement than a real fright.