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Added 9 October 2026

scare

/skɛə/ noun

In Latin: terreō, timeor Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about scare at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A minor fright.
Johnny had a bad scare last night.
A cause of terror or alarm; a panic; something that inspires fear or dread.
a food-poisoning scare
A device or object used to frighten.

verb

To frighten, terrify, startle, especially in a minor way.
Did it scare you when I said "Boo!"?

adjective

lean; scanty

Origin

From Middle English sker, skere (“terror, fright”), from the verb Middle English skerren (“to frighten”) (see below).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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