It stems from the outdated word “affray” which meant a disturbance in peace by fighting in public space (both verbal and/or physical).
Going further back, “affray” originates from the Old English word frithu which itself comes from the German word Friede (“peace”). The prefix “a-” usually means ‘absence of’ in nouns, so “affray” means absence of peace.
So, if you look at it closely, ‘afraid’ having the meaning of ‘scared’ means you have a quarrel with your inner peace, much akin to your inner dispute when you know that you are about to inconvenience somebody.
It stems from the outdated word “affray” which meant a disturbance in peace by fighting in public space (both verbal and/or physical).
Going further back, “affray” originates from the Old English word frithu which itself comes from the German word Friede (“peace”). The prefix “a-” usually means ‘absence of’ in nouns, so “affray” means absence of peace.
So, if you look at it closely, ‘afraid’ having the meaning of ‘scared’ means you have a quarrel with your inner peace, much akin to your inner dispute when you know that you are about to inconvenience somebody.
German or germanic?
Germanic in this case, you’re right. But it’s also the German word lol