fretfuladj.
/ˈfrɛtf(ᵿ)l/, U.S. /ˈfrɛtf(ə)l/ a. Corrosive, irritating, literal and figurative.
ΚΠ
1594 H. Plat Diuerse Sorts of Soyle 56 in Jewell House More sharpe, and fretfull to their fingers than their vsuall morter.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iii. ii. 407 Though parting be a fretfull corosiue, It [printed Ir] is applyed to a deathfull wound. View more context for this quotation
b. Irritated, inflamed. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > inflammation > [adjective]
scaldedc1450
angryc1500
inflammate1583
inflamed1599
fiery1600
blazed1631
in a flame1658
inflammatory1732
phlogistic1732
angered1753
fretful1804
phlogotic1817
phlogosed1830
phlegmatous1854
inflammablea1862
phlogogenic1881
phlogogenous1890
phlogogenetic1891
stormy1899
1804 J. Abernethy Surg. Observ. 126 The ulcer..was of the size of a shilling, with fretful edges.
2. Disposed to fret, irritable, peevish, ill-tempered; impatient, restless.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > [adjective] > annoying or vexatious
angeeOE
swinkfuleOE
plightlyOE
teenfulOE
contrariousc1320
drefa1325
troublinga1325
despitousa1340
thornya1340
discomfortablec1350
troublablec1374
noyousa1382
noyfulc1384
diseasy1387
angrya1393
painful1395
hackinga1400
annoying?c1400
annoyousc1400
cumbrousc1400
teenc1400
annoyfulc1405
sputousc1420
diseasefula1425
molest?a1425
noying?a1425
noisomea1450
grievingc1450
tedious?1454
troublous1463
noisantc1475
displeasant1481
strouble1488
nuisant1494
noyanta1500
irksome1513
sturting1513
molestious1524
vexatious1534
cumbersome1535
uncommodious1541
spiteful1548
vexing?1548
incommodious1551
molestous1555
diseasing1558
grating1563
pestilent1565
sturtsome1570
molestuousa1572
troublesome1573
murrain1575
discommodable1579
galling1583
spiny1586
unsupportable1586
troubleful1588
plaguey1594
distressingc1595
molestful1596
molesting1598
vexful1598
fretful1603
briery1604
bemadding1608
mortifying1611
tiry1611
distressfula1616
irking1629
angersome1649
disobliging1652
discomforting1654
incomfortable1655
incommode1672
ruffling1680
unconvenient1683
pestifying1716
trying1718
offending1726
bothering1765
pesky1775
weary1785
sturty1788
unaccommodating1790
tiresome1798
werriting1808
bothersome1817
plaguesome1828
pestilential1833
fretsome1834
languorous1834
pesty1834
pestersome1843
nettlesome1845
miserable1850
niggling1854
distempering1855
be-maddeninga1861
nattery1873
nagging1883
pestiferous1890
trouble-giving1893
maddening1896
molestive1905
nuisancy1906
balls-aching?1912
nuisance1922
nattering1949
noodgy1969
dickheaded1991
dickish1991
cockish1996
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > peevishness > [adjective]
protervec1384
teethya1500
peevishc1530
protervous1547
pettish1552
tatter1579
fretting1587
teeny1594
frampold1599
treaf1601
fretful1603
teety1621
frappish1631
froppish1659
huffy1680
toothy1691
peenging1724
fractious1725
crossish1740
huffish1755
petulant1755
refractious1761
pouty1799
pensy1803
fudgy1819
twiney1824
rammista1838
fretty1844
petful1852
patchy1862
fretsome1870
grizzly1900
anfractuous1923
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. v. 20 A tale..whose lightest word Would..Make..each particular haire to stand on end Like quils vpon the fretfull Porpentine.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 96 In so much as he became fretfull, and pettish.
1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber xiv. 286 The fretful temper of a friend.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth IV. 209 Impelled by a fretful impetuosity.
1802 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 8 528 The child had become more silly and fretful.
1833 Regulations Instr. Cavalry i. ii. 83 Where a horse continues uneasy and fretful with the bit for a long time, the mouth piece is most likely ill suited to him.
1837 E. Bulwer-Lytton Ernest Maltravers I. iii. ii. 261 Men of second-rate genius..are fretful and nervous.
a1848 D. G. Rossetti Blessed Damozel vi Where this earth Spins like a fretful midge.
3.
a. Of water, etc.: Agitated, troubled, broken into waves.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > state of sea > [adjective] > agitated
wilda1250
unpeaceablea1398
troubly1398
troubleda1425
trouble1509
working1558
disquiet1587
fretful1616
ruffled1640
fretteda1854
1616 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals II. iv. 102 Two goodly streames..Whose fretfull waues beating against the hill, Did all the bottome with soft muttrings fill.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §322 The horizon..was so extremely black, fretful, and hazy, that nothing could be seen.
1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 25 July 2/2 A pretty picture framed by the fretful sea and the cloudless sky.
b. Of the wind: Blowing in frets or gusts; gusty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [adjective] > blowing (of wind) > blowing in or characterized by gusts
blasty1582
gusty1592
puffy1616
frettinga1665
squally1748
flawy1807
gustful1825
fretfula1849
a1849 J. C. Mangan Poems (1859) 122 Bitter blows the fretful morning wind.
4. Characterized by or apt to produce fretting.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > [adjective]
troubleda1325
troublyc1340
troublec1374
worried1559
betoiled1622
aerumnous1658
fidgety1736
fretful1737
fretted1756
tanglesome1823
awful1865
hincty1929
toey1930
to worry (oneself), be worried, sick1952
noodgy1969
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > [adjective] > causing worry
corrosive1581
baiting1585
fretful1737
worrying1826
worrisome1845
worriting1845
fidgety1885
1737 J. Thomson To Mem. Ld. Talbot 340 The kindred Souls of every Land, (Howe'er divided in the fretful Days Of Prejudice and Error) mingled now.
1798 W. Wordsworth Lines Tintern Abbey in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 204 The fretful stir Unprofitable, and the fever of the world.
1852 J. S. Blackie On Stud. Lang. 33 To pick words out of a dictionary is fretful.
1890 Murray's Mag. June 737 The fearsome, fretful, forest, dank and deep.
Derivatives
ˈfretfully adv. in a fretful manner.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > peevishness > [adverb]
protervely1447
peevisha1529
pettishlya1625
peevishlya1638
frettinglya1649
crossly1736
fractiously1736
huffishly1755
fretfully1789
petulantly1838
pettedly1858
huffily1860
huffingly1864
teethily1879
1789 F. Burney Diary Apr. (1842) V. 21 Really frightened at she knew not what, she fretfully exclaimed, [etc.].
1860 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (ed. 2) V. 174 The Carews rode fretfully up and down the river banks, probing the mud with their lances to find footing for their horses.
1880 ‘Ouida’ Moths I. ix. 228 ‘What is the use of putting off?’ said her mother fretfully, ‘you will be ill’.
ˈfretfulness n. the quality or condition of being fretful.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irascibility > peevishness > [noun]
crabbingc1450
protervitya1527
peevishness1561
pettishness1603
fretfulness1615
huffiness1678
froppishness1688
petulancy1712
fractiousness1727
crossness1740
petulance1785
bile1836
huffishness1841
biliousness1856
pettedness1860
strop1970
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 274 And this we tearme fretfulnesse or pettishnes.
1843 J. Martineau Endeavours Christian Life I. xxi. 331 Drives away every trace of fretfulness.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1594