scary English · revision 5735

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1582}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈskeə.ri/, US /ˈsker.i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|scare|-y]], from the noun scare.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) It is also spelled scarey.^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Terrifying, causing fright: 1582 in the OED and MWU, the 1580s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “easily frightened, timid” is from 1800 and is originally and chiefly North American;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) in this sense it was formerly sometimes written skeery or skeary.^(Etymonline) The EDD records scary in Scots and northern English dialects, and in American use.^(Wright 1898) The SOED labels the word colloquial,^(SOED 2002) and in American campus slang it has also meant “good” (1969).^(Dalzell 2013)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1582 – frightening.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1800 – easily frightened.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1969 – good (campus slang).^(Dalzell 2013)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(informal)'' [[frightening|alt=Frightening]]; causing fear or [[alarm]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Easily frightened; [[timid]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scarily]]

+ * [[scariness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scare]]

+ * [[scarecrow]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}