Fraught

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /frɔːt/
• Rhymes: -ɔːt
• US IPA: /frÉ”t/
• cot-caught IPA: /frÉ‘t/

Origin

From Middle English, from Middle Dutch vracht or Middle Low German vracht ("freight money"), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *fra- + Proto-Germanic *aihtiz ("possession"), from Proto-Indo-European *eik'- ("to possess"). Cognate with Old High German frēht ("earnings"), Old English ǣht ("owndom"). More at for-, own.

Full definition of fraught

Noun

1. (obsolete) The hire of a ship or boat to transport cargo.
2. (obsolete) Money paid to hire a ship or boat to transport cargo; freightfraught money.
3. (obsolete) The transportation of goods, especially in a ship or boat.
4. (obsolete) A ship's cargo, lading or freight.
5. (Scotland) A load; a burden.
6. (Scotland) Two bucketfuls (of water).

Derived terms

• fraught-free

Verb

1. (transitive, obsolete except in past participle) To load (a ship, cargo etc.).
• 1610, , by ShakespeareHad I been any god of power, I would
  Have sunk the sea within the earth, or e'er
  It should the good ship so have swallow'd and
  The fraughting souls within her.

Adjective

1. (of a cargo-carrier) Laden.
• Shakespearea vessel of our country richly fraught
2. (with with) Furnished, equipped.
3. (figuratively, with with) Loaded up, charged or accompanied.
• Southa discourse fraught with all the commending excellences of speech
• I. Taylorenterprises fraught with world-wide benefits
• 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. .all these matters are fraught with paradox, just as they always have been
4. Distressed.