fres1son

[A word of no etymology.) Logic: An arbitrary name for a mode in the fourth figure of syllogisms, in which figure the Middle Term is the predicate of the Major and the subject of the Minor Premise. Taking X to represent the Major Term, Y the Minor, and Z the Middle, a syllogism in Fresison would stand thus: IMG:content-0143.png:[blocks in formation] *6. To shake violently; to agitate. "You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops, and to make a noise When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven." Shakesp.: Merchant of Venice, iv. 1. 7. To make rough or disturb; as, to fret the surface of water. "His fretted fortunes gave him hopes and fears." Shakesp.: Antony and Cleopatra , iii. 6. II. Figuratively : 1. To eat or wear away so as to diminish; to im pair. *2. To exacerbate; to increase in strength or sharpne . *3. To make angry or displeased; to vex; to cause to grieve; to chafe. "Because thou hast fretted me in all these things, behold I will recompense thy way upon thine head." Ezekiel xvi. 43. 4. To agitate, to disturb, to disquiet. "Do not fret yourself too much in the action." Shakesp.: Midsummer Night's Dream, iv. 1. B. Intransitive : 1. To cause corrosion; to wear away. "Command these fretting waters from your eyes." Shakesp.: Measure for Measure, iv. 3. 2. To be worn or eaten away; to corrode. "The sal ammoniac will fret away, and the gold remain behind."- Peacham . 3. To become worn or chafe; to fray; as, A coat frets . 4. To make way by attrition or corrosion; to eat or wear in. "These do but indeed scrape off the exuberances, or fret into the wood, and therefore they are very seldom used to soft wood."- Moxon . *5. To agitate, to shake. "A sail filled with a fretting gust." Shakesp.: Henry VI ., Pt. III ., ii. 6. *6. To be in commotion; to be agitated; to move with force. "The adjoining brook, that purls along The vocal grove, now fretting o'er a rock." Thomson: Summer, 481. "By this salve the sore rather festered and rankled than healed up, and the sedition thereby fretted more and more."-P. Holland: Livius, p. 228. 8. To be angry or fretful; to become vexed or irritated; to grieve; to chafe. "We fret , we fume, we change our skins." Tennyson: Will Waterproof's Monologue. For the difference between to fret and to rub , see RUB. frět (2), v. t. [A. S. frætwan, frætwian =to adorn: frætuwe, frætwe =ornament.] 1. To ornament; to decorate; to adorn. "The sadel with gold was fret and precious ston." Sir Ferumbras, 3,663. 2. To ornament with raised or carved work. [FRET, 8.] "The roof was fretted gold."- Milton : P. L. , i. 717. 3. To variegate. "Yon gray lines, That fret the clouds, are me engers of day." Shakesp.: Julius Cæsar, li. 1. frět (3), v . t . [FRET (5), 8.] Music : 1. To furnish with frets, as a violin, . 2. To finger, as a fretted instrument. "Call me what instrument you will, though you can