fraist

English

Etymology

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

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

     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.

Related terms

• fraise

Anagrams

• afrits, ftiras, iftars, tafsir

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Middle English

Noun

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

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