Origin of scare

1150–1200; (v.) Middle English skerren < Old Norse skirra to frighten, derivative of skjarr timid, shy; (noun) late Middle English skere, derivative of the v.

OTHER WORDS FROM scare

scar·er, noun scar·ing·ly, adverb un·scared, adjective

Words nearby scare

scarce as hen's teeth, scarcely, scarcely ever, scarcement, scarcity, scare, scare out of one's wits, scare quotes, scare up, scarecrow, scaredy-cat

Words related to scare

alarm, shock, panic, paralyze, dismay, terrorize, intimidate, startle, daunt, awe, petrify, terrify, terror, start, fright, alert, freeze, spook, affright, chill

Example sentences from the Web for scare

British Dictionary definitions for scare

scare
/ (skɛə) /

verb

to fill or be filled with fear or alarm
(tr; often foll by away or off) to drive (away) by frightening
(tr) US and Canadian informal (foll by up)
  1. to produce (a meal) quickly from whatever is available
  2. to manage to find (something) quickly or with difficultybrewers need to scare up more sales

noun

a sudden attack of fear or alarm
a period of general fear or alarm

adjective

causing (needless) fear or alarm a scare story

Derived forms of scare

scarer, noun

Word Origin for scare

C12: from Old Norse skirra; related to Norwegian skjerra, Swedish dialect skjarra

Idioms and Phrases with scare

scare