Definition of "afeard"

afeard

adjective
comparative more afeard, superlative most afeard
1. (archaic or dialectal) Afraid.
  Quotations
  Pray you pass with your best violence;I am afeard you make a wanton of me.
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene ii]
  I feel as if something’s behind me all the time; and I’m afeard to turn around, becuz maybe there’s others in front a-waiting for a chance.
  1876, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter XXV, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Hartford, Conn.: The American Publishing Company, page 197
  He's afeard of you, Luke. Don't you know that?
  2009, John Hough, Jr., Seen the Glory‎ (Fiction), Simon and Schuster, page 192