transitive. To wear away.

To waste and impair (a material) gradually by use or attrition. ? Primarily with clothes as obj. = to damage them by ordinary wearing.

transitive. To wear down, wear away, consume, spend; to pass, employ (time).

with pred. complement, as to wear threadbare, smooth, blunt; to wear to ragsor tatters, to wear to the stumps. (Also in figurative context.)

with intensifying adverb, as away, down, off, out.

Phrase, (to wear) to the stumps. Chiefly figurative. Very common in 16–18th centuries; now rare or Obsolete.

transitive. To erode (something) by friction; = wear, v.1 9a. rare.