fretan

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *fraetaną, corresponding to for- +‎ etan. Cognate with Old Saxon fretan (Middle Low German vreten), Old High German frezzan (German fressen), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (fraitan).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfre.tɑn/

Verb

fretan

1. to devour, consume, fret; eat up
2. to break, burst

Conjugation

Conjugation of fretan (strong class 5)

infinitive	fretan	fretenne
indicative mood	present tense	past tense
first person singular	frete	frǣt
second person singular	fritst	frǣte
third person singular	fritt, frit	frǣt
plural	fretaþ	frǣton
subjunctive	present tense	past tense
singular	frete	frǣte
plural	freten	frǣten
imperative
singular	fret
plural	fretaþ
participle	present	past
	fretende	(ġe)freten

Descendants

• Middle English: freten, ffrete, frete, fretyn, vreten; freoten
  • English: fret
  • Scots: frete, freet

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Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *fraetaną.

Verb

fretan

1. to devour, eat greatly

Conjugation

Conjugation of fretan (strong class 5)

infinitive	fretan
indicative	present	past
1st person singular	fritu	frat
2nd person singular	fritis	frāti
3rd person singular	fritid	frat
plural	fretad	frātun
subjunctive	present	past
1st person singular	frete	frāti
2nd person singular	fretes	frātis
3rd person singular	frete	frāti
plural	freten	frātin
imperative	present
singular	fret
plural	fretad
participle	present	past
	fritandi	gifretan, fretan

Descendants

• Middle Low German: vrēten
  • German Low German: freten, friätten