Affray

Affray
Affray 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.] [1913 Webster]

2. Alarm; terror; fright. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

3. A tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl; a fray. ``In the very midst of the affray.'' --Motley. [1913 Webster]

4. (Law) The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]

Note: A fighting in private is not, in a legal sense, an affray. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Quarrel; brawl; scuffle; encounter; fight; contest; feud; tumult; disturbance. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • affray — af·fray /ə frā/ n [Middle French affrai effrai fright, disturbance, from affraier effreer to terrify]: a fight between two or more people in a public place that disturbs the peace Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • Affray — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • affray — n fray, fight, combat, conflict, *contest Analogous words: *brawl, row, fracas, melee, rumpus: *encounter, skirmish, brush: dispute, *argument, controversy affray vb *frighten …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • affray — (n.) c.1300, state of alarm produced by a sudden disturbance, from O.Fr. effrei, esfrei disturbance, fright, from esfreer (v.) to worry, concern, trouble, disturb, from V.L. *exfridare, lit. to take out of peace, from L. ex out of (see EX (Cf. ex …   Etymology dictionary

  • affray — ► NOUN Law, dated ▪ a breach of the peace by fighting in a public place. ORIGIN from Old French afrayer disturb, startle …   English terms dictionary

  • affray — [ə frā′, afrā′] n. [ME affrai, an attack, alarm < OFr esfrei < esfrëer, to frighten < ML * exfridare < L ex, out of + Gmc base frith , peace] a noisy brawl or quarrel; public fight or riot; breach of the peace vt. [ME affraien <… …   English World dictionary

  • Affray — For the British submarine see HMS Affray (P421) Affray in English Law In English Law, Affray forms part of the Public Order Act 1986 under section 3. The Public Order Act 1986 s.3 states:# A person is guilty of Affray if a person uses or… …   Wikipedia

  • affray — [[t]əfre͟ɪ[/t]] N SING: also no det An affray is a noisy and violent fight, especially in a public place. [FORMAL] Barnstaple crown court was told he caused an affray at a pub in Braunton, Devon... They were convicted of affray and received… …   English dictionary

  • affray — UK [əˈfreɪ] / US noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms affray : singular affray plural affrays legal a noisy argument or fight in a public place …   English dictionary

  • affray — 1. noun a) The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack. The affray in the busy marketplace caused great terror and disorder. b) A tumultuous assault or quarrel. Syn: fray, brawl, alarm, terror, fright …   Wiktionary

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