affront

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect
  2. verb treat, mention, or speak to rudely

Etymology

From Middle English afrounten, from Old French afronter (“to hit in the face; to defy”), from Vulgar Latin *affrontare (“to hit in the face”), from Latin ad (“to”) + frōns (“forehead”) (English front). By surface analysis, af- + front.

In classic literature

Synonyms

insult

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