Affront
/əˈfrʌnt/noun
An insulting or disrespectful action or remark.
Did you know?Affront entered English through French with the literal sense of meeting someone face-to-face, and the modern idea of an insult likely grew from the social danger of being confronted openly.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
ad frontem
“toward the forehead or front”
Old French
Old French
afronter
“to face, confront”
Middle English
English
affronten
“to meet face-to-face; to insult by confronting openly”
16th Century
English
affront
“an open insult or act of contempt”
Modern English
English
affront
“an insulting or disrespectful act or remark”