kaput
EnglishMerriam-Webster Dictionaryng his newspaper
EnglishMerriam-Webster DictionaryFirst Known Use
Verb (1)
12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3aNoun (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1aVerb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1aNoun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1Noun (3)
circa 1500, in the meaning defined aboveVerb (3)
1603, in the meaning defined aboveHistory and Etymology
Verb (1) and Noun (1)
Middle English, to devour, fret, from Old English fretan to devour; akin to Old High German frezzan to devour, ezzan to eat — more at eatVerb (2)
Middle English, back-formation from fret, fretted adorned, interwoven, from Anglo-French fretté, past participle of fretter to tie, probably from Vulgar Latin *firmitare, from Latin firmus firmNoun (3)
perhaps from Middle French frete ferrule, from freterfret
verb
Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)
- to consume or wear away gradually //over the span of thousands of years, the annual spring runoff fretted the rock, forming a deep channelRelated WordsNear Antonyms
- to damage or diminish by continued friction //don't let the girth fret the horse's belly or you won't be able to ride him
- to experience concern or anxiety //don't fret over whether it will be sunny tomorrow, as there's nothing we can do about itSynonymous Phrases
noun
Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)
- a state of nervous or irritated concern //one of my customers always gets into a fret if I'm so much as 15 minutes late delivering his newspaperRelated Words
verb
frittered; frittering; fritters
Definition (Entry 2 of 2)
- transitive verb
- : to spend or waste bit by bit, on trifles, or without commensurate return —usually used with away //frittered away their inheritance
- : to break into small fragments
- intransitive verb
ng his newspaper
First Known Use
Verb (1)
12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3aNoun (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1aVerb (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1aNoun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1Noun (3)
circa 1500, in the meaning defined aboveVerb (3)
1603, in the meaning defined aboveHistory and Etymology
Verb (1) and Noun (1)
Middle English, to devour, fret, from Old English fretan to devour; akin to Old High German frezzan to devour, ezzan to eat — more at eatVerb (2)
Middle English, back-formation from fret, fretted adorned, interwoven, from Anglo-French fretté, past participle of fretter to tie, probably from Vulgar Latin *firmitare, from Latin firmus firmNoun (3)
perhaps from Middle French frete ferrule, from freterfret
verb
Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)
- to consume or wear away gradually //over the span of thousands of years, the annual spring runoff fretted the rock, forming a deep channelRelated WordsNear Antonyms
- to damage or diminish by continued friction //don't let the girth fret the horse's belly or you won't be able to ride him
- to experience concern or anxiety //don't fret over whether it will be sunny tomorrow, as there's nothing we can do about itSynonymous Phrases
noun
Synonyms (Entry 2 of 2)
- a state of nervous or irritated concern //one of my customers always gets into a fret if I'm so much as 15 minutes late delivering his newspaperRelated Words
verb
frittered; frittering; fritters
Definition (Entry 2 of 2)
- transitive verb
- : to spend or waste bit by bit, on trifles, or without commensurate return —usually used with away //frittered away their inheritance
- : to break into small fragments
- intransitive verb