\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.

\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.