fraist

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English fraisten, freisten, frasten, from Old Norse freista (to try, tempt, make trial of), from Proto-Germanic *fraistōną (to try), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (to try, risk). Cognate with Icelandic freista (to tempt), Swedish fresta (to try, tempt, tantalise), Danish friste (to try, tempt), Old English frāsian (to ask, inquire, tempt, try). More at fraise.

Verb

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fraist (third-person singular simple present fraists, present participle fraisting, simple past and past participle fraisted)

  1. (obsolete, transitive, intransitive, UK dialectal) To try; test; prove; put to the proof; make trial (of).
    • 1540, Destruction of Troy[1]:
      Þen found he no frekes to fraist on his strenght.
  2. (obsolete, transitive, UK dialectal) To learn by trial; experience.
  3. (transitive, obsolete) To seek to learn; ask; inquire.
  4. (transitive, obsolete) To seek; be eager for; desire.
  5. (intransitive, obsolete) To go forth on an expedition; sally forth.
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Anagrams

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Middle English

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Noun

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fraist (plural fraists)

  1. A test; test of strength or will power; an attack
    Þis castel es of loue and grace..Of enmye dredis it na fraist.Cursor Mundi