frayeur
fright, terror
noun freh-YUR Rare
Origin: Old French fraeur, from Latin fragor 'crash, din'
Usage Note
Frayeur denotes a sudden intense fright, stronger than simple peur (fear) but similar to effroi. It is often triggered by an unexpected shock rather than a prolonged anxiety. Common expressions: avoir une frayeur ('to get a fright') and quelle frayeur ! ('what a scare!'). The plural frayeurs can refer to recurrent frightening experiences.
Examples
"Le bruit soudain lui a causé une grande frayeur."
Natural Translation
The sudden noise gave her a great fright.
Literal Translation
The sudden noise caused her a great fright.
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