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gnawn

 - 3 dictionary results

gnawn

  [nawn]
Use gnawn in a Sentence
–verb
a pp. of gnaw.

gnaw

  [naw] verb, gnawed, gnawed or gnawn, gnaw⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to bite or chew on, esp. persistently.
2. to wear away or remove by persistent biting or nibbling.
3. to form or make by so doing: to gnaw a hole through the wall.
4. to waste or wear away; corrode; erode.
5. to trouble or torment by constant annoyance, worry, etc.; vex; plague.
–verb (used without object)
6. to bite or chew persistently: The spaniel gnawed happily on a bone.
7. to cause corrosion: The acid gnaws at the metal.
8. to cause an effect resembling corrosion: Her mistake gnawed at her conscience.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME gnawen, OE gnagen; c. G nagen, ON gnāga

Related forms:
gnaw⋅a⋅ble, adjective
gnawer, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

gnaw 
O.E. gnagan (pt. *gnog, pp. gnagan), a common Gmc. word (cf. O.S. gnagan, O.N. gnaga, M.Du. knagen, Ger. nagen), probably imitative of gnawing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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