Af*fray" (?), n. [OE. afrai,
affrai, OF. esfrei, F. effroi, fr. OF. esfreer.
See Affray, v. t.] 1. The act
of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack. [Obs.]
2. Alarm; terror; fright. [Obs.]
Spenser.
3. A tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl; a
fray. "In the very midst of the affray." Motley.
4. (Law) The fighting of two or more
persons, in a public place, to the terror of others.
Blackstone.
☞ A fighting in private is not, in a legal sense, an
affray.
Syn. -- Quarrel; brawl; scuffle; encounter; fight; contest; feud;
tumult; disturbance.
Af*fray" (?), v. t. [p.
p. Affrayed.] [OE. afraien, affraien, OF.
effreer, esfreer, F. effrayer, orig. to disquiet, put
out of peace, fr. L. ex + OHG. fridu peace (akin to E.
free). Cf. Afraid, Fray, Frith inclosure.]
[Archaic] 1. To startle from quiet; to
alarm.
Smale foules a great heap
That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my sleep.
Chaucer.
2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten
away.
That voice doth us affray.
Shak.