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gnawn

Variant of gnaw

transitive verb gnawed, gnawed or Raregnawn, gnawing

  1. to cut, bite, and wear away bit by bit with the teeth
  2. to make by gnawing: to gnaw a hole
  3. to consume; wear away; corrode
  4. to torment, as by constant pain, fear, etc.; harass

intransitive verb

  1. to bite repeatedly: with on, away, at, etc.
  2. to produce a biting, consuming, corroding, eroding, tormenting, etc. effect: with on, at, etc.: waves gnawed away at the shore; fear gnawed on his consciousness

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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