fright

Fright is defined as sudden fear or apprehension, or is a person who looks startling or ridiculous.

(noun)

A ghost that causes you to feel extremely scared is an example of a fright.
A person who is messy, wearing unkempt and mismatched clothes with unbrushed hair is an example of someone who looks a fright.
A feeling of terror you get when you see a ghost is an example of fright.

See fright in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Origin: ME < OE fyrhto, fryhto, fear, akin to Ger furcht, fear, Goth faúrhts < IE base *perg-, fear, to be afraid

transitive verb

Rare to frighten; terrify

Origin: ME frighten < OE fyrhtan

See fright in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Sudden intense fear, as of something immediately threatening; alarm. See Synonyms at fear.
Informal Something extremely unsightly, alarming, or strange: Brush your hair; you look a fright.

transitive verb fright·ed, fright·ing, frights
Archaic

To frighten.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English fyrhto, fryhto

Origin: . V., from Middle English frighten, to frighten, be afraid

Origin: , from Old English fyrhtan

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