Etymology
Advertisement

affront (v.)

early 14c., "offend by open disrespect," a figurative use, from Old French afronter "to face, confront; to slap in the face" (13c., Modern French affronter), from Late Latin affrontare "to strike against," from Latin ad frontem "to the face," from ad "to" (see ad-) + frons (genitive frontis) "forehead, front" (see front (n.)). Related: Affronted; affronting.

affront (n.)

1590s, "an openly offensive word or deed," from affront (v.) or from French affront (n.), from the verb in French.

updated on December 08, 2016

Advertisement