Part 133

How can any one imagine that the fathers would have dared to affront the wife of Aurelius? Addison.

Syn. -- To insult; abuse; outrage; wound; illtreat; slight; defy; offend; provoke; pique; nettle.

Af*front", n. [Cf. F. affront, fr. affronter.] 1. An encounter either friendly or hostile. [Obs.]

I walked about, admired of all, and dreaded On hostile ground, none daring my affront. Milton.

2. Contemptuous or rude treatment which excites or justifies resentment; marked disrespect; a purposed indignity; insult.

Offering an affront to our understanding. Addison.

3. An offense to one's self-respect; shame. Arbuthnot.

Syn. -- Affront, Insult, Outrage. An affront is a designed mark of disrespect, usually in the presence of others. An insult is a personal attack either by words or actions, designed to humiliate or degrade. An outrage is an act of extreme and violent insult or abuse. An affront piques and mortifies; an insult irritates and provokes; an outrage wounds and injures.

Captious persons construe every innocent freedom into an affront. When people are in a state of animosity, they seek opportunities of offering each other insults. Intoxication or violent passion impels men to the commission of outrages. Crabb.

Af*fron*té" (&?;), a. [F. affronté, p. p.] (Her.) Face to face, or front to front; facing.

Af*front"ed*ly (&?;), adv. Shamelessly. [Obs.] Bacon.

Af*fron*tee", n. One who receives an affront. Lytton.

Af*front"er (&?;), n. One who affronts, or insults to the face.

Af*front"ing*ly, adv. In an affronting manner.

Af*front"ive (&?;), a. Tending to affront or offend; offensive; abusive.

How affrontive it is to despise mercy. South.

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Af*front"ive*ness (f*frnt"v*ns), n. The quality that gives an affront or offense. [R.] Bailey.

Af*fuse" (f*fz"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affused (-fzd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Affusing (&?;).] [L. affusus, p. p. of affundere to pour to; ad + fundere. See Fuse.] To pour out or upon. [R.]

I first affused water upon the compressed beans. Boyle.

Af*fu"sion (f*f"zhn), n. [Cf. F. affusion.] The act of pouring upon, or sprinkling with a liquid, as water upon a child in baptism. Specifically: (Med) The act of pouring water or other fluid on the whole or a part of the body, as a remedy in disease. Dunglison.

Af*fy" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affied (&?;); p. pr. Affying.] [OF. afier, LL. affidare. Cf. Affiance.] 1. To confide (one's self to, or in); to trust. [Obs.]

2. To betroth or espouse; to affiance. [Obs.] Shak.

3. To bind in faith. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.

Af*fy", v. i. To trust or confide. [Obs.] Shak.

Af"ghan (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Afghanistan.

Af"ghan, n. 1. A native of Afghanistan.

2. A kind of worsted blanket or wrap.