fretted

transitive verb fretted, fretting

1. to eat away; gnaw
2. to wear away by gnawing, rubbing, corroding, etc.
3. to make or form by wearing away
4. to make rough; disturb: wind fretting the water
5. to irritate; vex; annoy; worry

Origin: ME freten < OE fretan, to devour, akin to Ger fressen, Goth fra-itan < Gmc prefix *fra- (OE for-: see for-) + *itan, to eat (OE etan: see eat)

intransitive verb

1. to gnaw (into, on, or upon)
2. to become eaten, corroded, worn, frayed, etc.
3. to become rough or disturbed
4. to be irritated, annoyed, or querulous; worry

noun

1. a wearing away
2. a worn place
3. irritation; worry