ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

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noun / verb

affront

uh-FRUNT/əˈfrʌnt/

An act that openly insults or offends someone.

Throwing the offered bouquet into the wastebasket is a deliberate affront.

An older woman deliberately pushes a freshly offered bouquet into a wastebasket while looking contemptuously at its giver.

Etymology

afLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+frontLatinforehead, face, or front

The pieces mean “to the face,” behind a verb that could mean confronting someone or slapping that person's face. This physical image became open disrespect, then an offensive remark or deed.

In context

The Hill65:16

because frequently people f focus on our lack of representation, and that is certainly an affront, uh, to us as taxpaying Americans.

Happening Now: Bowser, DC Officials Testify Before House On Oversight Of Nation’s Capital

More examples

The rude remark was an affront to every volunteer.
She felt affronted by the suggestion that she had cheated.
Repeated affronts finally ended their friendship.

Forms

affront · affronts · affronted · affronting

Similar words

insult: Is the general term for offensive words or actions.
slight: Often means a smaller or subtler show of disrespect.