fray

      English

      Pronunciation

      Etymology 1

      From Middle English frai, aphetic variant of affray.

      Noun

      fray (plural frays)

      1. Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
        Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray.
        • Shakespeare
          Who began this bloody fray?
        • 2010 December 29, Mark Vesty, “Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal”, BBC:
          Wigan, unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium, looked well in control but the catalyst for Arsenal's improvement finally came when Diaby left the field with a calf injury and Jack Wilshere came into the fray, bringing some much needed determination and urgency to lacklustre Arsenal.
      2. (archaic) fright
      Translations
      Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee

      Etymology 2

      From Middle English fraien, from Old French frayer, from Latin fricāre, present active infinitive of fricō.

      Verb

      fray (third-person singular simple present frays, present participle fraying, simple past and past participle frayed)

      1. (intransitive) To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
        The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
      2. (intransitive, figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
        The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
      3. (transitive, archaic) frighten; alarm
        • 1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:
          "Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can never demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is anymore then the striking of a Bush where a Bird's Nest is, where you fray away the Bird, and then seize upon the empty Nest."
        • Spenser
          What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
        (Can we find and add a quotation of I. Taylor to this entry?)
      4. (transitive) To bear the expense of; to defray.
        • Massinger
          The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed, I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
      Translations
      unravel
      to wear out
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      Spanish

      Etymology

      Apocope of fraile (“friar”).

      Noun

      fray m (plural frays)

      1. friar

      Abbreviations

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      Last modified on 13 June 2013, at 21:23