Frightened Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Psychology

• Feeling frightened triggers the body's 'fight or flight' response, preparing you to escape danger.
• Children experience fear differently than adults, often influenced by their imagination and what they are taught to fear.

Literature

• In many fairy tales, characters often find themselves frightened when facing witches, dragons, or dark forests, reflecting inner struggles.
• Frightened characters in stories often grow and overcome their fears, teaching valuable lessons about bravery.

Pop Culture

• Many horror films use the theme of being frightened to thrill audiences, with suspenseful music and jump scares.
• Comic characters often portray exaggerated fright, making the audience laugh even while showing fear.

Science

• Studies show that fear can enhance memory, making frightened individuals more likely to remember the events surrounding their fear.
• The amygdala in the brain plays a crucial role in processing fear and triggering emotional reactions.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from the Old English 'fricgan,' which means to be afraid or to dread.
• The suffix '-ened' indicates a condition or state, so it literally means being in a state of fear.

The word 'frightened' comes from the Middle English word 'frightenen', which is derived from the Old English word 'fyrhto', meaning 'fear'. The concept of being frightened has been a part of human experience since ancient times, as fear is a natural response to perceived danger or threat.

See also: fright, frighten, frightening, frightful, frightfully.

At #6,007 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

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• 6004 entertained
• 6005 instructor
• 6006 traveled
• 6007 frightened
• 6008 generalized
• 6009 satisfactorily
• 6010 lively
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