fret

fret
I. verb (fretted; fretting) Etymology: Middle English, to devour, fret, from Old English fretan to devour; akin to Old High German frezzan to devour, ezzan to eat — more at eat Date: 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to eat or gnaw into ; corrode; also fray b. rub, chafe c. to make by wearing away a substance <
the stream fretted a channel
>
2. to cause to suffer emotional strain ; vex 3. to pass (as time) in fretting 4. agitate, ripple intransitive verb 1. a. to eat into something b. to affect something as if by gnawing or biting ; grate 2. a. wear, corrode b. chafe c. fray 1 3. a. to become vexed or worried b. of running water to become agitated II. noun Date: 15th century 1. a. the action of wearing away ; erosion b. a worn or eroded spot 2. an agitation of mind ; irritation III. transitive verb (fretted; fretting) Etymology: Middle English, back-formation from fret, fretted adorned, interwoven, from Anglo-French fretté, past participle of fretter to tie, probably from Vulgar Latin *firmitare, from Latin firmus firm Date: 14th century 1. a. to decorate with interlaced designs b. to form a pattern upon 2. to enrich with embossed or pierced carved patterns IV. noun Date: 14th century 1. an ornamental network; especially a medieval metallic or jeweled net for a woman's headdress 2. an ornament or ornamental work often in relief consisting of small straight bars intersecting one another in right or oblique angles V. noun Etymology: perhaps from Middle French frete ferrule, from freter Date: circa 1500 one of a series of ridges fixed across the fingerboard of a stringed musical instrument (as a guitar) • fretless adjectivefretted adjective VI. transitive verb (fretted; fretting) Date: 1602 to press (the strings of a stringed instrument) against the frets

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • fret — fret …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • fret — [ frɛ(t) ] n. m. • XIIIe; néerl. vrecht 1 ♦ Prix du transport des marchandises par mer, et par ext. par air ou par route. ♢ Prix de location d un navire. ⇒ nolis. 2 ♦ Loc. À FRET : en louant le bâtiment servant au transport des marchandises.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Fret — (fr[e^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fretted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fretting}.] [OE. freten to eat, consume; AS. fretan, for foretan; pref. for + etan to eat; akin to D. vreten, OHG. frezzan, G. fressen, Sw. fr[ a]ta, Goth. fra itan. See {For}, and {Eat} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fret — Fret, n. 1. Ornamental work in relief, as carving or embossing. See {Fretwork}. [1913 Webster] 2. (Arch.) An ornament consisting of small fillets or slats intersecting each other or bent at right angles, as in classical designs, or at oblique… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fret — fret1 [fret] vt. fretted, fretting [ME freten < OE fretan, to devour, akin to Ger fressen, Goth fra itan < Gmc prefix * fra (OE for : see FOR ) + * itan, to eat (OE etan: see EAT)] 1. to eat away; gnaw 2. to wear away by gnawing, rubbing,… …   English World dictionary

  • Fret — Fret, n. 1. The agitation of the surface of a fluid by fermentation or other cause; a rippling on the surface of water. Addison. [1913 Webster] 2. Agitation of mind marked by complaint and impatience; disturbance of temper; irritation; as, he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fret — Ⅰ. fret [1] ► VERB (fretted, fretting) 1) be constantly or visibly anxious. 2) gradually wear away by rubbing or gnawing. ► NOUN chiefly Brit. ▪ a state of anxiety. ORIGIN Old …   English terms dictionary

  • Fret — Fret, v. t. [OE. fretten to adorn, AS. fr[ae]twan, fr[ae]twian; akin to OS. fratah[=o]n, cf. Goth. us fratwjan to make wise, also AS. fr[ae]twe ornaments, OS. fratah[=i] adornment.] To ornament with raised work; to variegate; to diversify. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fret — Fret, n. [F. frette a saltire, also a hoop, ferrule, prob. a dim. of L. ferrum iron. For sense 2, cf. also E. fret to rub.] 1. (Her.) A saltire interlaced with a mascle. [1913 Webster] 2. (Mus.) A short piece of wire, or other material fixed… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fret — kann mehrere Bedeutungen haben. der Geschäftsbereich des Güterbahnverkehrs der französischen Staatsbahn SNCF Bund, ein Element von Saiteninstrumenten, wird auch fret genannt. dazu: Frets on Fire fretless Förster Resonanzenergietransfer oder auch… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • fret — [v1] worry, be annoyed affront, agonize, anguish, bleed, bother, brood, carp, carry a heavy load*, chafe, chagrin, distress oneself, eat one’s heart out*, fume, fuss, get into a dither*, grieve, lose sleep over*, mope*, pother*, stew, sweat it… …   New thesaurus

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