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affray

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.]

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

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

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

   Note: A fighting in private is not, in a legal sense, an
         affray.

   Syn: Quarrel; brawl; scuffle; encounter; fight; contest;
        feud; tumult; disturbance.

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 from quiet; to alarm.

            Smale foules a great heap That had afrayed
            [affrayed] me out of my sleep.        --Chaucer.

   2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.

            That voice doth us affray.            --Shak.

Source : WordNet®

affray
     n 1: noisy quarrel [syn: {altercation}, {fracas}]
     2: a noisy fight [syn: {disturbance}, {fray}, {ruffle}]
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