[fret] vb fret.ted ; fret.ting [ME, to devour, fret, fr. OE fretan to devour; akin to OHG frezzan to devour, ezzan to eat--more at eat] vt (12c) 1 a: to eat or gnaw into: corrode; also: fray b: rub, chafe c: to make by wearing away a substance "the stream fretted a channel"
2: to cause to suffer emotional strain: vex
3: to pass (as time) in fretting
4: agitate, ripple ~ vi 1 a: to eat into something b: to affect something as if by gnawing or biting: grate
2. a: wear, corrode b: chafe c: fray 1 3 a: to become vexed or worried b of running water: to become agitated
[2]fret n (15c) 1 a: the action of wearing away: erosion b: a worn or eroded spot
2: an agitation of mind: irritation [3]fret vt fret.ted ; fret.ting [ME, back-formation fr. fret, fretted adorned, interwoven, fr. MF frete, fr. OF, pp. of freter, ferter to tie, bind, prob. fr. (assumed) VL firmitare, fr. L firmus firm] (14c) 1 a: to decorate with interlaced designs b: to form a pattern upon
2: to enrich with embossed or pierced carved patterns [4]fret n (14c) 1: an ornamental network; esp: a medieval metallic or jeweled net for a woman's headdress
2: an ornament or ornamental work often in relief consisting of small straight bars intersecting one another in right or oblique angles [5]fret n [perh. fr. MF frete ferrule, fr. freter] (ca. 1500): one of a series of ridges fixed across the fingerboard of a stringed musical instrument (as a guitar) -- fret.less adj -- fret.ted adj [6]fret vt fret.ted ; fret.ting (1602): to press (the strings of a stringed instrument) against the frets