fraist meaning (obsolete): definition, etymology and quotations

fraist

verb

Etymology From Middle English fraisten, freisten, frasten, from Old Norse freista (“to try, tempt, make trial of”), from Proto-Germanic *fraistōną (“to try”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to try, risk”). Cognate with Icelandic freista (“to tempt”), Swedish fresta (“to try, tempt, tantalise”), Danish friste (“to try, tempt”), Old English frāsian (“to ask, inquire, tempt, try”). More at fraise.

UK, Ambitransitive, Dialectal, Obsolete To try; test; prove; put to the proof; make trial (of).

Þen found he no frekes to fraist on his strenght.1540, Destruction of Troy:

UK, Dialectal, Obsolete To learn by trial; experience.

Obsolete To seek to learn; ask; inquire.

Obsolete To seek; be eager for; desire.

Obsolete To go forth on an expedition; sally forth.

Related terms: fraise