freet
See also: Freet
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English frete (“superstition”), from Old Norse frétt (“news, intelligence, inquiry, inquiry about the future”), from Proto-Germanic *frihtiz (“news, report, message, question, prophecy”), related to Icelandic frétt (“news”), Icelandic frétta (“to review”), Danish and Norwegian fritte (“to question, interrogate”), English frain (“to question”). More at frain.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
freet (plural freets)
- A superstitious notion or belief with respect to any action or event as a good or a bad omen; a superstition.
- 1824, John Mactaggart, The Scottish Gallovidian Encyclopedia, page 263:
- If the old “freet” be true “ that those who fall when at the handspake aneath the corpse, will soon be the corpse themsell," there would soon be a good few corspes; for at these "druken" concerns, the bearers are falling some of them every now and then.
- A superstitious rite, observance, wont, or practise.
- 1903, Samual Ferguson, The Fairy Well of Lagnanay:
- Oh, sister Ellen, sister sweet, Come with me to the hill I pray, And I will prove that blessed freet!
- A charm.
Derived terms edit
Anagrams edit
Luxembourgish edit
Verb edit
freet
- inflection of freeën:
Verb edit
freet
Middle English edit
Verb edit
freet
- alternative simple past of frēten.
- 1390, William Langland, Piers Ploughman:
- Adam freet of that fruit, And forsook The love of our Lord.
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)