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affray definition

af·fray (ə frā′, a-)

noun

a noisy brawl or quarrel; public fight or riot; breach of the peace

Etymology: ME affrai, an attack, alarm < OFr esfrei < esfrëer, to frighten < ML *exfridare < L ex, out of + Gmc base frith-, peace

transitive verb

Archaic to frighten

Etymology: ME affraien < OFr esfraer

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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