Part 4582

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To rub; to wear away by friction; to chafe; to gall; hence, to eat away; to gnaw; <as>as, to <ex>fret</ex> cloth; to fret a piece of gold or other metal; a worm <ex>frets</ex> the plants of a ship.</as></def>

<blockquote>With many a curve my banks I <b>fret</b>. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To impair; to wear away; to diminish.</def>

<blockquote>By starts His <b>fretted</b> fortunes give him hope and fear. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To make rough, agitate, or disturb; to cause to ripple; <as>as, to <ex>fret</ex> the surface of water</as>.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>To tease; to irritate; to vex.</def>

<blockquote><b>Fret</b> not thyself because of evil doers. <i>Ps. xxxvii. 1.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Fret</h1> <Xpage=595>

<hw>Fret</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To be worn away; to chafe; to fray; <as>as, a wristband <ex>frets</ex> on the edges</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To eat in; to make way by corrosion.</def>

<blockquote>Many wheals arose, and <b>fretted</b> one into another with great excoriation. <i>Wiseman.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To be agitated; to be in violent commotion; to rankle; <as>as, rancor <ex>frets</ex> in the malignant breast</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To be vexed; to be chafed or irritated; to be angry; to utter peevish expressions.</def>

<blockquote>He <b>frets</b>, he fumes, he stares, he stamps the ground. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Fret</h1> <Xpage=595>

<hw>Fret</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The agitation of the surface of a fluid by fermentation or other cause; a rippling on the surface of water.</def>

<i>Addison.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Agitation of mind marked by complaint and impatience; disturbance of temper; irritation; <as>as, he keeps his mind in a continual <ex>fret</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>Yet then did Dennis rave in furious <b>fret</b>. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Herpes; tetter.</def>

<i>Dunglison.</i>

<p><b>4.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <fld>(Mining)</fld> <def>The worn sides of river banks, where ores, or stones containing them, accumulate by being washed down from the hills, and thus indicate to the miners the locality of the veins.</def>

<h1>Fret</h1> <Xpage=595>

<hw>Fret</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>fretten</ets> to adorn, AS. <ets>fr\'91twan</ets>, <ets>fr\'91twian</ets>; akin to OS. <ets>fratah<?/n</ets>, cf. Goth. <ets>us-fratwjan</ets> to make wise, also AS. <ets>fr\'91twe</ets> ornaments, OS. <ets>fratah\'c6</ets> adornment.]</ety> <def>To ornament with raised work; to variegate; to diversify.</def>

<blockquote> Whose skirt with gold was <b>fretted</b> all about. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Yon gray lines, That <b>fret</b> the clouds, are messengers of day. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Fret</h1> <Xpage=595>

<hw>Fret</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Ornamental work in relief, as carving or embossing. See <er>Fretwork</er>.</def>