gnaw

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To bite or chew at something repeatedly, especially something hard.

   The dog gnawed the bone for hours.

2. 2
   verb

   To cause someone persistent worry or anxiety.

   Doubt about the decision gnawed at her all night.

From Middle English gnawen, gnaȝen, from Old English gnagan, from Proto-West Germanic *gnagan, from Proto-Germanic *gnaganą (“to gnaw”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *gʰnēgʰ- (“to gnaw, scratch”). Cognate with Dutch knagen, German nagen, Danish gnave (“to gnaw”), Norwegian Bokmål gnage, Norwegian Nynorsk gnaga, Swedish gnaga.

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