Bosworth Toller's

Anglo-Saxon

Dictionary online

FRETAN

  • verb [ strong ]
Dictionary links
Grammar
FRETAN, ic frete, ðú fritest, fritst, he freteþ, friteþ, fritt, fryt, pl. fretaþ; p. ic, he fræt, ðú frǽte. pl. frǽton; pp. freten [for-, etan to eat?].
Wright's OE grammar
§80; §505;
to eat up, gnaw, FRET , devour, consume; devŏrāre, consūmĕre, comĕdĕre
Show examples
  • Ða ðe wilniaþ fretan mín folc

    qui devŏrant plēbem meam,

    • Ps. Th. 13, 9: 26, 3: Exon. 127 a
    • ;
    • Th. 488, 11
    • ;
    • Rä. 76, 5: 87 b
    • ;
    • Th. 329, 34
    • ;
    • Vy. 44: Beo. Th. 6021
    • ;
    • B. 3014: 6220
    • ;
    • B. 3114.
  • Swá líg freteþ mórhǽþ

    vĕlut flamma incendat montes,

    • Ps. Th. 82, 10.
  • Friteþ wildne fugol

    it eats the wild bird,

    • Salm. Kmbl. 596
    • ;
    • Sal. 297: 808
    • ;
    • Sal. 403.
  • Deáþ misfédeþ oððe fritt hig

    mors depascet eos,

    • Ps. Spl. T. 48, 14.
  • Fýr fryt land mid his wæstme

    ignis devŏrābit terram cum germĭne suo,

    • Deut. 32, 22.
  • Gærstapan hit fretaþ eall

    locustæ devŏrābunt omnia,

    • Deut. 28, 38 : Ps. Th. 52, 5.
  • He fræt fýftýne men

    he devoured fifteen men, Beo.

    • Th. 3167
    • ;
    • 6. 1581: Exon. 112 b
    • ;
    • Th. 432, 4
    • ;
    • Rä. 48, 1.
  • He fræt uncer wurþ

    cŏmēdit prĕtium nostrum,

    • Gen. 31, 15: Ps. Spl. 79, 14.
  • Fugelas hit frǽton

    vŏlucres comēdērunt illud,

    • Mk. Bos. 4, 4
    • ; frétun, Rush.: fréton,
    • Mt. Lind. 13, 4: Gen. 37, 20.
  • We hine frǽton

    obsorbuĭmus eum,

    • Ps. Th. 34, 23: 104, 30.
  • Wǽron hie mid meteliéste gewǽgde, and hæfdon miclne dǽl ðara horsa freten

    they were distressed. for want of food, and had eaten a great part of their horses,

    • Chr. 894
    • ;
    • Erl. 92, 28.
  • Swá hwylcne man swá hý gefóþ fretaþ hí hine

    quoscunque capiunt comedunt,

    • Nar. 36, 4.
  • Freotas

    devorant,

    • Mk. Skt. Rush. 12, 40.
to break, burst; frangĕre. rumpĕre
Show examples
  • Heó wǽre frǽton

    they brake their covenant,

    • Cd. 149
    • ;
    • Th. 187, 7
    • ;
    • Exod. 147.
Etymology
[
Piers P. Chauc. frete
:
Laym. freten to gnaw
:
Orm. freteþþ fretteth
:
Plat. freten, vreten
:
Dut. vreten
:
Ger. fressen
:
M. H. Ger. vrëzzen
:
O. H. Ger. farëzzan, firezan, frezzan, frëzan
:
Goth. fraítan
:
Dan. fraadse
:
Swed. frata, frassa.
]
Linked entries
v.  gefrett.
Full form

Word-wheel

  • FRETAN, v.