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Fray vs Fighting - What's the difference?

fray | fighting |

As nouns the difference between fray and fighting

is that fray is affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee while fighting is a fight or battle; an occasion on which people fight.

As verbs the difference between fray and fighting

is that fray is to unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope while fighting is .

As an adjective fighting is

engaged in war or other conflict.

fray

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) frai, aphetic variant of affray.

Noun

(en noun)
  • Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
    • Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray .
  • * Shakespeare
    • Who began this bloody fray ?
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Mark Vesty , title=Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Wigan, unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium, looked well in control but the catalyst for Arsenal's improvement finally came when Diaby left the field with a calf injury and Jack Wilshere came into the fray , bringing some much needed determination and urgency to lacklustre Arsenal. }}
  • (archaic) fright

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) fraien, from (etyl) frayer, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
    • The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
  • (figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
    • The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
  • (archaic) frighten; alarm
  • * 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:
    • "Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can never demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is anymore then the striking of a Bush where a Bird's Nest is, where you fray away the Bird, and then seize upon the empty Nest."
  • * Spenser
    • What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
  • To bear the expense of; to defray.
  • * Massinger
    • The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed , I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
  • To rub.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • We can show the marks he made / When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed .

    fighting

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Derived terms

    * fighting chance

    Adjective

    (head)
  • Engaged in war or other conflict.
  • Apt to provoke a fight.
  • * 1925 April 11, "Books", in , page 26:
    • It seems like a fighting insult, but he explains.
  • * 1947 , (film):
    • Them's fighting words in my country!
  • * 2003 , Marjorie Kelly, The Divine Right of Capital: Dethroning the Corporate Aristocracy , Berrett-Koehler Publishers, ISBN 1576752372, page xi:
    • Those are fighting words, of course, and the people who presently hold the high ground of economic power in society will not be amused.

    Derived terms

    * fighting words

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fight or battle; an occasion on which people fight
  • * {{quote-book, year=1613, author=, title=A Collection Of Old English Plays, Vol. IV., chapter=The Costlie Whore, edition= citation
    • , passage=Then here the warres end, here[206] our fightings marde, Yet by your leave Ile stand upon my Guard. '' }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1840, author=Thomas Carlyle, title=On Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=Seid had fallen in the War of Tabuc, the first of Mahomet's fightings with the Greeks. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1860, author=John Yeardley, title=Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=A good many soldiers, and some officers, were present; but the expression of our dissent from all wars and fightings had not displeased them, for they shook hands with US most kindly. }}

    Descendants

    * Korean: (hwaiting)