Fret (frĕt), 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. fräta, Goth. fra-itan. See For, and Eat, v. t.] 1. To devour.
The sow frete the child right in the cradle. Chaucer.
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.
With many a curve my banks I fret. Tennyson.
3. To impair; to wear away; to diminish.
By starts
His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear. Shak.
4. To make rough, agitate, or disturb; to cause to ripple; as, to fret the surface of water.
5. To tease; to irritate; to vex.
Fret not thyself because of evil doers. Ps. xxxvii. 1.