fray - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

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- - fraternal
  - fraternity
  - fraternize
  - fratricide
  - Frau
  - fraud
  - fraudulent
  - fraught
  - Fräulein
  - fraxinella
  - fray
  - frazil
  - frazzle
  - freak
  - freaking
  - freaky
  - freckle
  - free
  - free agent
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fray

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Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
fray1

▶verb

1 (of a fabric, rope, or cord) unravel or become worn at the edge.

2 (of a person's nerves or temper) show the effects of strain.

– origin ME: from OFr. freiier, from L. fricare ‘to rub’.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
fray2

▶noun (the fray) a situation of intense competitive activity.

■ a battle or fight.

– origin ME: from archaic fray ‘to quarrel’, from affray ‘startle’, from Anglo-Norman Fr. afrayer (see affray).

'fray' also found in these Oxford entries:

frazzle - ravel

Forum discussions with the word(s) "fray" in the title:

above-the-fray quality
fray
fray at the edges
fray green

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