gnaw
pronunciation
How to pronounce gnaw in British English:
UK [nɔː]
How to pronounce gnaw in American English:
US [nɔː]
-
- Verb:
- bite or chew on with the teeth
- become ground down or deteriorate
Word Origin
- gnaw (v.)
- Old English gnagan "to gnaw, bite off little by little" (past tense *gnog, past participle gnagan), from Proto-Germanic *gh(e)n- "to gnaw" (cognates: Old Saxon gnagan, Old Norse, Swedish gnaga, Middle Dutch, Dutch knagen, Old High German gnagan, German nagen "to gnaw"), probably imitative of gnawing. Figurative sense "wear away as if by continued biting" is from early 13c. Related: Gnawed; gnawing.
Example
- 1. He was obliged to gnaw it with his teeth .
- 2. Shift not yourself in sight of others nor gnaw your nails .
- 3. Alas , why gnaw you so your nether lip ?
- 4. Having to gnaw off his own arm to survive . So you 'll do it ?
- 5. Gnaw : this ghoul abilityisnow able to be set on auto cast .