afoot
/əˈfʊt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.89 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
adv
On foot. (means of locomotion, walking)
adv
adj
Walking or running; using the feet for locomotion, as opposed to on horseback or riding in a vehicle.
adj
That is on foot, in motion, in action, in progress.
Example Sentences
- "Is it fit, let your mightyship say, / That I, like some pitiful flirt, / Should tarry within doors all day, / Or else trudge it afoot in the dirt?"
- "Hamlet: […]I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot, / Even with the very comment of thy soul / Observe mine uncle:[…]"
- "Possibly some chemical experiment was afoot; possibly----Well, it was no business of mine to speculate upon why he wanted it."
- "In San Francisco and in New Jersey, to quote two other examples, plans are afoot to subsidise new commuter line construction or existing operations out of toll revenue from state highways or bridges."
- "‘Patience,’ said Slartibartfast again. ‘Great things are afoot.’¶ ‘That's what you said last time we met,’ said Arthur.¶ ‘They were,’ said Slartibartfast.¶ ‘Yes, that's true,’ admitted Arthur.¶ All, however, that seemed to be afoot was a ceremony of some kind."
- "“Has anyone seen Laszlo? I can't find him anywhere. And it's really not like him.” “Oh... Laszlo's missing, eh?” “Yeah.” “Mm, the game is afoot.”"
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-)der. English a- English foot English afoot From a- + foot.