I. ˈfrid.ə(r), -itə- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English fritour, fritur, frutour, frutur, from Middle French friture, from ( assumed ) Vulgar Latin frictura, from Latin frictus (past participle of frigere to roast, fry) + -ura -ure
1. : a small quantity of batter often containing fruit or meat and fried in deep fat or sautéed
apple fritters
corn fritters
clam fritters
2. New England : griddle cake
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of fitter
: fragment , shred
each … morsel, crumb, scrag and fritter from the bins — Edith Sitwell
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to reduce or waste piecemeal : diminish , consume , dissipate — used chiefly with away
foolishly frittering away time and energy
frittering our time and thoughts away on trivial things — Dorothy C. Fisher
2. : to cut or break into small pieces or fragments : disperse
the responsibility for measures is frittered and divided among a triad of authorities — Ernest Barker
intransitive verb
1. : to break up : divide into fragments
there is formed … a slag which fritters on cooling — Chem. Abstracts
2. : to dissipate itself : dwindle
the threat of economic sanctions frittered into impotent “moral” protest — Fortune
the conspiracy frittered away to an ignominious conclusion — American Guide Series: Ind.
Synonyms: see waste