nɔ: v. (past
part. gnawed or gnawn) 1 a tr. (usu. foll. by
away,
off, in
two, etc.)
bite persistently; wear away by
biting. b intr. (often foll. by
at, into) bite,
nibble. 2 a intr. (often foll. by at, into) (of a
destructive agent,
pain,
fear, etc.)
corrode;
waste away;
consume;
torture. b tr. corrode, consume, torture, etc.
with pain, fear, etc. (was gnawed by doubt). 3 tr. (as gnawing adj.)
persistent; worrying. øøgnawingly adv. [OE gnagen, ult. imit.]