From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fret \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[aum]ta, Goth. fra-itan. See
For, and Eat, v. t.]
1. To devour. [Obs.]
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The sow frete the child right in the cradle.
--Chaucer.
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2. To rub; to wear away by friction; to chafe; to gall;
hence, to eat away; to gnaw; as, to fret cloth; to fret a
piece of gold or other metal; a worm frets the plants of a
ship.
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With many a curve my banks I fret. --Tennyson.
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3. To impair; to wear away; to diminish.
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By starts
His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear. --Shak.
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4. To make rough, agitate, or disturb; to cause to ripple;
as, to fret the surface of water.
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5. To tease; to irritate; to vex.
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Fret not thyself because of evil doers. --Ps.
xxxvii. 1.
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