afraidnessn.
/əˈfreɪdnᵻs/, U.S. /əˈfreɪdnᵻs/ rare.
The quality or state of being afraid; timidity, fear.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > [noun] > state of
frightiheada1325
fearedness1340
effraying1489
fearfulnessa1513
frayedness1530
frightment1607
frightfulness1621
dauntedness1660
afraidness1669
funkiness1859
the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > [noun]
arghtha1250
arghshipc1275
arghness1340
faintness1398
ferdfulness1398
timorosity1490
timiditya1513
timorousnessa1513
unboldness?1520
timerity1582
inaudacity?1594
unhardiness1611
to lie aback1636
meticulosity1655
pavidity1656
afraidness1669
timidness1680
sheepishness1712
funkiness1859
fearsomeness1891
1669 R. Garbutt Preserv. against Judgm. in Demonstr. Resurrect. Christ 226 The shyness and afraidness one of another.
1677 F. Bampfield All in One 17 I take the causes of Atheism amongst many others to be, as an afraidness of the convincingness..of the holy Precepts and righteous Judgements declared in the Scriptures.
1872 Tinsley's Mag. Feb. 90/2 It was grimly amusing to me to notice the willingness to wound, and yet afraidness to strike, that characterised the writer's allusions to Browning.
1922 E. von Arnim Enchanted April xiv. 221 How deceitful her afraidness had made her.
1927 G. A. Terrill in Chambers's Jrnl. 8 Jan. 94/2 He couldn't have held her if she had given a breath of afraidness.
1989 D. J. Grove & B. I. Panzer Resolving Traumatic Memories (1991) viii. 246 I have a feeling really tight across my neck and shoulders. And when it shows up it's there to tell me that the afraidness is there now.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1669