frettingn.1
/ˈfrɛtɪŋ/ The action of fret v.1 in various senses.
1. † b. A gnawing or pain (in the bowels). Obsolete.
a. A slow gnawing or eating away; erosion, corrosion; also, the process of decaying or wasting.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > loss of material > eating away
gnawing1340
fretting1382
gnaw1735
fret1830
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > loss of material > wearing away > wearing by friction
fretting1382
attrition1601
fridging1607
obtrition1658
detrition1674
detritus1795
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > decay or decaying
decas1393
decay1523
corrupting1565
fretting1582
marcor1646
contabescence1650
rot1663
decayedness1702
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) 1 Kings viii. 37 If that hungre were growen vp on the erthe, or..fretynge or locust.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xvi. xlv. 850 Rust is..doon away..by fretyng of a sawe or of fyle.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Add. MS.) lxiv. 278 And the thirde day after she died, as by fretyng of the addres.
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 2v Buckles and agglettes at vnwares, shall race hys bowe, a thinge..perilous for freatynge.
1582 in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1599) II. i. 161 No Wooll is lesse subiect to mothes, or to fretting in presse, then this.
1789 G. White Nat. Hist. Selborne 11 These roads..are, by..the fretting of water, worn down through the first stratum of our freestone.
1878 in G. P. Lathrop Masque of Poets 106 The fretting of worms on withered wood.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > pain in specific parts > [noun] > in stomach or bowels
womb achea1398
gnawing1398
torsionc1425
colicc1440
frettingc1440
the wormc1500
wringc1500
griping1526
wresting?1543
wringing?1550
bellyache1552
torment1578
colic passion1586
wind-colic1593
belly-thrawe1595
belly-grinding1597
fret1600
gripe1601
wrenching1607
mulligrubsa1625
bellywarka1652
torminaa1655
efferation1684
stomach-ache1763
gastrodynia1804
guts-ache1818
stony colic1822
wame-ill1829
gastralgia1834
tummy ache1926
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 73/1 Chervynge, or fretynge in þe wombe, torcio.
1533 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe 24 [Fennel seed] mytigateth freattynges of the stomake and guttes.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball v. lxxviii. 646 Gripings and frettings of the belly.
c. Damage suffered by two metal surfaces when clamped or otherwise held together, owing to slight relative motion to and fro; fretting corrosion, fretting accompanied by a chemical change of the surfaces.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > corrosion > corrosion and friction
frettage1938
fretting1939
1939 G. A. Tomlinson et al. in Proc. Inst. Mech. Engineers CXLI. 235/2 It appears desirable to denote the present action by the term ‘fretting corrosion’.
1939 G. A. Tomlinson et al. in Proc. Inst. Mech. Engineers CXLI. 223/1 Although..chemical action accompanies fretting corrosion, the process nevertheless is almost certainly not one of corrosion as ordinarily understood.
1948 H. H. Uhlig Corrosion Handbk. iii. 590 Increasing trouble from fretting corrosion can be expected as machine parts are operated at higher stresses.
1960 New Scientist 22 Sept. 776/3 This variety is termed fretting corrosion, and is differentiated from simple fretting by the fact that the abraded particles undergo chemical change, generally as a result of oxidation.
2. Of fermented liquors: The process of undergoing a second and inactive fermentation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > [noun] > fermentation > secondary fermentation
fret1664
fretting1699
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Parell..poured into a Vessel of Wine to Cure it's Fretting.
1745 J. T. Needham Acct. New Microsc. Discov. vii. 76 The fretting of Wine in the Spring Time..may be owing to a Fermentation.
1832 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. (ed. 2) 170 Singing must be carefully distinguished from fretting. The former is the result of active, the latter of inactive, fermentation.
3. The action of irritating or chafing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > sore > gall or chafe > action of
excoriation1447
fretting1546
1546 T. Phaer Bk. Children (1553) T v b Some haue an ytch and a fretting of the skynne as yf it hadde bene rubbed with nettels.
1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 194 The onely medicine that heales without corrupting, and cleanseth without fretting.
4. Vexation, worrying: an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > [noun]
troublec1230
troublingc1340
troublancec1400
troublement1484
fretting1526
maceration1616
troubledness1631
heartburn1747
bother1761
embroil1799
worry1804
worrit1818
botherment1821
worriment1833
worriting1845
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. MMiiv Turment nat thy selfe (my herte) with affliction and frettyng, for yt thynge that thou can nat haue.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis ii. 25 With choloricque fretting I dumpt.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 106 They fall into passions, fretting, sweating, pulling off their hats, and trembling fearefully.
a1716 O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. v. 46 By their continual Peevishness and Frettings, they become ten times more uneasy.
1860 R. W. Emerson Fate in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 36 In age, we put out another sort of perspiration,—gout, fever, rheumatism,..fretting, avarice.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
frettingn.2
/ˈfrɛtɪŋ/ The action of covering (a ceiling, etc.) with frets or fretwork, the ornamentation so produced. Also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > sculpture or carving > [noun] > in specific materials or methods
stone-cutting1611
fretting1614
masonry1686
high relief1703
phelloplastic1802
wood-carving1847
photosculpture1861
gem-sculpture1882
chip carving1883
stone-craft1903
soft sculpture1966
earthwork1968
1614 R. Boyle Diary (1886) I. 49 I agree to paie the plaisterers for fretting of my gallery at Yoghall 40 marks.
1624 H. Wotton Elements Archit. in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 63 Of this plastick Art, the chief use with us is in the graceful fretting of Roofs.
1801 R. Southey Thalaba I. iv. 206 The lovely Moon, O'er whose broad orb the boughs A mazy fretting framed.
1858 G. MacDonald Phantastes xiv. 185 The arches intersected intricately, forming a fretting of black upon the white.
1880 Watson in Jrnl. Linn. Soc. XV. No. 84. 227 The peculiar microscopic spiral fretting of the genus.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
† frettingn.3
Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > rubbing or friction > [noun]
frotting?c1225
chafinga1398
rubbinga1398
confricationc1400
frettingc1400
attrition1601
fricacing1607
perfrication1607
triture1607
affrication1615
affriction1615
confriction1617
rub1618
frication1631
intertrigation1651
perfriction1656
friction1718
interfrication1747
adhesion1825
chafe1848
interfriction1854
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 179 If þou wolt kepe þe eendis of þe heeris fro fretynge.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum at Bolster Bolsters whyche bearers of burdens, as porters, etc. do weare for freatynge, thomices.
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 12v [A] Gristle..maketh the motion..more easie, and swift, without metyng and frettyng of the Bones.
1600 in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 95 They kindle their fire with..fretting one sticke against another.
1653 R. Austen Treat. Fruit-trees 62 Trees..planted a good distance one from another..are freed from frettings, & gallings.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
frettingadj.
/ˈfrɛtɪŋ/ That frets, in senses of the verb.
1. Gnawing, corroding, consuming, wasting.
a. in material sense. Obsolete or archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [adjective] > by loss of material or wasted > worn > eroded or eaten away > that eats away
fretting1393
gnawing1567
eatingc1602
eroding1612
depascent1651
feeding1750
erosive1830
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xxi. 158 Of alle fretynge venymes þe vilest is þe scorpion.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 203 Eruginosa is lijk þe rust of copur. & þis maner of colre is miche freting & scharp.
1570 G. Ellis Lament. Lost Sheep lxxvii Thou drankest freting vineger with gall, To make their bitter waters hunny-sweet.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball iii. lvi. 223 Cast into fretting and devouring ulcers..it stayeth the same.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) iv. iii. 143 Command these fretting waters from your eies. View more context for this quotation
1666 Philos. Trans. 1665–6 (Royal Soc.) 1 257 Some other thing that will not be injured by the fretting Brine.
1677 T. D'Urfey Madam Fickle iv. 41 Now has he a fretting Feaver on him.
1685 R. Boyle Exper. Disc. Salubr. Air 65 in Ess. Effects Motion The Liquor..by its fretting quality corrodes and dissolves Gold.
1769 J. Brown Dict. Holy Bible I. 505 A fretting leprosy, is one which by prickling and rankling wastes the flesh.
1813 T. Busby tr. Lucretius Nature of Things i. 361 To watery drops the hardest marbles yield, And lessening ploughshares own the fretting field.
1874 F. W. Farrar Silence & Voices of God iii. 61 All these gifts combined saved her not from being eaten away by that fretting leprosy of her favourite sins.
b. in immaterial sense.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > cause of mental anguish or torment > [adjective]
anguishous?c1225
wounding?c1225
asperc1374
derflya1400
rending?c1400
furiousc1405
fretting1413
piercingc1450
anguish1477
piquant1521
anguishing?1566
plaguing1566
asperous?1567
agonizing1570
tormenting1575
wringing1576
cutting1582
tormentous1583
tormentful1596
tormentuous1597
racking1598
torturous1600
lacerating1609
torturing1611
tearinga1616
heart-aching1620
breast-rending1625
crucifying1648
tormentative1654
martyring?a1656
tormentive1655
discruciating1658
cruciatory1660
anguishful1685
brain-racking1708
probing1749
agonized1793
anguished1803
harrowing1810
vulnerary1821
grinding1869
torturesome1889
wrenching1889
tortuous1922
1413 Pilgr. Sowle (1483) iii. iii. 51 Ye ben lene Caitifs withouten flesshe and that is of youre owne fretyng hertes.
c1450 J. Lydgate Secrees 1573 The sharp Corosye of fretyng detraccioun.
c1450 J. Lydgate Secrees 1971 And delyuer in the heed, ffrom fretyng malencolye.
c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxviii. 20 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 106 These memories, in memory enrold By freating tyme may neuer thence be worn.
1652 R. Boreman Country-mans Catech. x. 28 Sinne, which is of that fretting nature, that wasting power [etc.].
1682 N. O. tr. N. Boileau-Despréaux Lutrin iv. 332 Exiling fretting Care, that kills a Cat!
1751 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) I. iv. 75 By industry we shut out..many fretting desires.
1878 J. Morley Vauvenargues 7 If poverty means pinching and fretting need of money.
c. intransitive for reflexive. Decaying.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [adjective] > decayed > decaying
perishinga1500
decaying1530
yellow1566
fretting1821
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 46 Curiosity his steps hath led To gaze on some old arch or fretting wall.
2. Chafing, fretful. Of a horse: Impatient. Also transferred.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > peevishness > [adjective]
protervec1384
teethya1500
peevishc1530
protervous1547
pettish1552
tatter1579
fretting1587
teeny1594
frampold1599
treaf1601
fretful1603
teety1621
frappish1631
froppish1659
huffy1680
toothy1691
peenging1724
fractious1725
crossish1740
huffish1755
petulant1755
refractious1761
pouty1799
pensy1803
fudgy1819
twiney1824
rammista1838
fretty1844
petful1852
patchy1862
fretsome1870
grizzly1900
anfractuous1923
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > temperament > [adjective] > impatient or restless
fretting1587
1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 23 Full sore she feard her flanks, & thought shee sawe Her friende pursue her on his fretting steed.
1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie iv. ix. 186 When we are in a fretting mood at the Church of Rome.
1864 F. Palgrave Hist. Normandy & Eng. IV. 179 Familiar and friendly conversation with the angry fretting king.
1883 Pall Mall Gaz. 30 Nov. 4/2 Slow barges..move on more speedily behind a fretting tug.
3.
a. Agitated, frothing. Of wine or beer: That is undergoing a second fermentation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > gas > gas or air in liquid or effervescence > [adjective] > full of or covered with foam or froth
foamyOE
foaminga1400
spumingc1400
frothy?1531
spurging1566
fretting1567
fuming1598
white-mouthed1598
frory1600
yeastya1616
frothed1616
frothing1628
lathering1630
mantling1633
sudding1633
spumeous1635
spewy1743
spooming1818
despumatious1819
yeastinga1821
creaming1825
spumous1854
frothsome1880
lathery1880
bubblesome1946
the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > [adjective] > fermenting > secondary
on or upon the fret1664
fretting1733
1567 G. Turberville Epit., Epigr. (1837) 342 No force of fretting fome.
1733 G. Cheyne Eng. Malady iii. iv. 300 Just as a Bottle of..fretting Wine, when the Cork is pulled out, will fly up, fume, and rage.
a1764 J. Clubbe Physiognomy 38 Anger is a kind of yeast in lumpish constitutions, that ferments, and gives a frothy, fretting volatility to the sluggish matter.
1940 H. L. Hind Brewing II. xxxv. 870 Some of the smaller types of wild yeast are..very resistant to fining, which entirely fails to remove them from a fretting beer.
b. Of the wind: Blowing in frets or gusts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > blowing (of wind) > blowing in or characterized by gusts
blasty1582
gusty1592
puffy1616
frettinga1665
squally1748
flawy1807
gustful1825
fretfula1849
a1665 K. Digby Jrnl. Voy. to Mediterranean (1868) 51 It was a maine storme, and a furious fretting wind, and in gustes there came most violent flawes.
Derivatives
ˈfrettingly adv. in a fretting manner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > peevishness > [adverb]
protervely1447
peevisha1529
pettishlya1625
peevishlya1638
frettinglya1649
crossly1736
fractiously1736
huffishly1755
fretfully1789
petulantly1838
pettedly1858
huffily1860
huffingly1864
teethily1879
a1649 W. Drummond Hist. James V in Wks. (1711) 107 In Musical Instruments, if a String jar and be out of Tune, we do not frettingly break it, but leisurely veer it about to a Concord.
1866 Mrs. M. J. Preston Beechenbrook Like a mettled young war-horse that..frettingly champs at the bit.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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n.11382
n.21614
n.3c1400
adj.1393