AFFRONT (2)

affront (2). Affront, v.t. to provoke, insult, offend

---

Af‐front″, n. [[Cf. F. affront, fr. affronter.]] 1. 1. An encounter either friendly or hostile.
I walked about, admired of all, and dreaded On hostile ground, none daring my affront. Milton. 2. 2. Contemptuous or rude treatment which excites or justifies resentment; marked disrespect; a purposed indignity; insult.
Offering an affront to our understanding. Addison. 3. 3. An offense to one's self-respect; shame. Arbuthnot.
Syn. — Affront, Insult, Outrage. An affront is a designed mark of disrespect, usually in the presence of others. An insult is a personal attack either by words or actions, designed to humiliate or degrade. An outrage is an act of extreme and violent insult or abuse. An affront piques and mortifies; an insult irritates and provokes; an outrage wounds and injures. Captious persons construe every innocent freedom into an affront. When people are in a state of animosity, they seek opportunities of offering each other insults. Intoxication or violent passion impels men to the commission of outrages. Crabb.