frightens

Verb

frighten (third-person singular simple present frightens, present participle frightening, simple past and past participle frightened)

1. (transitive) To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright.
   • Avery puts a sheet over her head, pretending to be a ghost to frighten Emily.
2. (intransitive) To become scared or alarmed.
   • In fitting the White Leghorns for exhibition, it must be remembered that they are of nervous disposition and frighten easily.1898, Franklane L. Sewell, Ida E. Tilson, “White Leghorns”, in The Poultry Herald Manual[:] A Guide to Successful Poultry Keeping, St. Paul, Minnesota: Webb Publishing Company, page 41