English
fright
Fright comes from Middle English fright ‘a fright or scare’, from Proto-Germanic *furhtį̄ ‘fear’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pr̥k-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pr̥k-‘to fear’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furhtį̄‘fear’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fryhtu
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fright‘a fright or scare’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1595–1596same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pr̥k-‘to fear’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*furhtį̄‘fear’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fryhtu
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fright‘a fright or scare’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1595–1596same form
Earliest quotation: c. 1595–1596, William Shakespeare, A Midsommer Nights Dreame: “Are not you he […] That frights the maidens…”
Every English word from Proto-Indo-European *pr̥k-
Today it means
noun A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pr̥k- / fright