(a) To devour (something), to eat up; (b) to eat (something); esp., to eat hungrily or greedily; ~ fil, to eat (one's) fill; ~ of, to partake of, eat of; ~ up, to eat up, devour; (c) to bite (something), to tear (with the teeth), to chew or gnaw; of a dart: to pierce; (d) to gnash the teeth.

Fig. To consume, swallow up; destroy.

(a) To file or scrape (something) away; rub to pieces, destroy by scraping; (b) to rub or chafe (something), to polish or cleanse by friction; ~ on, to rub (something) onto (a surface); (c) to preen (feathers); (d) cook. to force (through a sieve) by rubbing or grating.

To corrode (something); of stone: to rot or crumble.

(a) To sting, smart, hurt; ~ flesh, to mortify (the flesh); freting cold, biting cold; ~ etik, burning fever; (b) of emotions, vices, etc.: to vex or consume (the heart, someone); refl. be vexed, wear oneself out (by worry, fear, etc.), freten to noughtes; freting herte, vexed or fretting mind; (c) to goad or importune (someone).

Med. To corrode, destroy: (a) of diseases, humors, poisons, ulcers: to be destructive (of bodily tissues), to corrode, waste; (b) of medicinal preparations: to be corrosive, to consume, destroy (ulcers, etc.); freting medicine, a corrosive agent, a caustic; (c) to remove (tissue) by cutting with a loop of thread.