Where does “frayed” come from?
Frayed comes from Middle English frai, derived from Latin fricare meaning to rub or friction, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰreyH-.
frayed (English): Unravelled, worn at the end or edge; simple past...
Definitions
- Unravelled, worn at the end or edge; simple past...
Ancestry of “frayed”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fray | To unravel; used particularly for the edge of... |
| 2 | Middle English | fraien | — |
| 3 | Middle English | affraien | To frighten |
| 4 | Anglo-Norman | afrayer | to terrify, disquiet, disturb; Alternative form... |
| 5 | Old French | effreer | — |
| 6 | Vulgar Latin | exfridare | — |
| 7 | Vulgar Latin | *exfrido | — |
| 8 | Frankish | friþu | peace, sanctuary; security, peace; peace |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | friþuz | peace, tranquility; sanctuary, refuge |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | priHós | dear, beloved; happy, free |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | preyH- | to love, to please |