v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Affronted; p. pr. & vb. n. Affronting. ] [ OF. afronter, F. affronter, to confront, LL. affrontare to strike against, fr. L. ad + frons forehead, front. See Front. ] 1. To front; to face in position; to meet or encounter face to face. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] All the sea-coasts do affront the Levant. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ] That he, as 't were by accident, may here Affront Ophelia. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To face in defiance; to confront; as, to affront death; hence, to meet in hostile encounter. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ] 3. To offend by some manifestation of disrespect; to insult to the face by demeanor or language; to treat with marked incivility. [ 1913 Webster ] How can any one imagine that the fathers would have dared to affront the wife of Aurelius? Addison. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- To insult; abuse; outrage; wound; illtreat; slight; defy; offend; provoke; pique; nettle. [ 1913 Webster ] |