fraught

plural fraughts

1. alsofigurativelyobsoleteuncountableusuallynauticalThe hire of a boat or ship to transport cargo.
2. alsofigurativelyobsoleteuncountableusuallynauticalMoney paid to hire a vessel for this purpose; freight.

   fraught money

3. alsofigurativelyobsoleteuncountableusuallynauticalThe transportation of goods, especially in a boat or ship.
4. alsofigurativelyobsoleteuncountableusuallynauticalA ship's cargo; freight, lading.

   VVell, goe / And bid the Merchants and my men diſpatch / And come aſhore, and ſee the fraught discharg'd.

   c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I, signature B3, recto

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   And novv behold after my vvinters toyle, / My paynefull voyage on the boyſtrous ſea, / Of vvarres deuouring gulphes and ſteely rocks, / I bring my fraught vnto the vviſhed port / My Summers hope, my trauels ſvveet reward: […]

   1596, [attributed to William Shakespeare; Thomas Kyd], The Raigne of King Edward the Third: […], London: […] [T. Scarlet] for Cuthbert Burby, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], signature G2, recto

   The fraught of this Ship being concluded to be Cedar, by the diligence of the Maſter, and Captaine Smith, ſhe vvas quickly reladed: […]

   1624, Iohn [i.e., John] Smith, “The Arrivall of the Phœnix; Her Returne; and Other Accidents”, in The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, 3rd booke, page 54

5. alsofigurativelyobsoleteuncountableusuallyobsolete except ScotlandTwo bucketfuls.

   The manse […] is reached […] by a wide, straight path, so rough that to carry a fraught of water to the manse without spilling was to be superlatively good at one thing.

   1891, J[ames] M[atthew] Barrie, “The Night-watchers”, in The Little Minister. […], volume I, London; Paris: Cassell and Company, […], →OCLC, pages 32–33

6. alsofigurativelyobsoleteuncountableusuallyobsolete except ScotlandA burden, a load.

   His fraught vve ſoon ſhall knovv, he novv arrives.

   1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 65, line 86

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   Thoſe morning haunts are vvhere they ſhould be at home, not ſleeping, or concocting the ſurfets of an irregular Feaſt, but up and ſtirring, […] in Summer as oft vvith the Bird that firſt rouſes, or not much tardier, to reade good Authors, or cauſe them to be read, till the Attention be vveary, or Memory have its full fraught: […]

   1642 April, John Milton, An Apology for Smectymnuus; republished in A Complete Collection of the Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous Works of John Milton, […], volume I, Amsterdam [actually London: s.n.], 1698, →OCLC, page 175

present singular third person fraughts · participle present fraughting · participle past fraughted · past fraughted · first person past singular fraughted · archaic present second person singular fraughtest · past second person singular fraughted · archaic past second person singular fraughtedst · present singular third person fraughts · archaic present singular third person fraughteth · past singular third person fraughted · past plural fraughted · past subjunctive fraughted · participle present fraughting · participle past fraughted

1. alsofigurativelyobsoletetransitivenauticalTo load (a boat, ship, or other vessel) with cargo.

   The ſhips are ſafe thou ſaiſt, and richly fraught?

   c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I, signature B2, recto

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   […] I denie that the Proteſtant doth not meddle vvith theſe things, but fraughteth his ſhippe onely vvith faith, and neuer beateth his braine about ſinnes.

   1603, Francis Dillingham, “The 15. Reason: Diuinitie”, in A Quartron of Reasons, Composed by Doctor Hill, Unquartered, and Prooued a Quartron of Follies, [Cambridge, Cambridgeshire]: […] Iohn Legat, printer to the Uniuersitie of Cambridge [a]nd are to be sold […] by Simon Waterson, →OCLC, page 68

   Tvvo Marchants departing from Spaine to get gold, touched vpon part of Barbary; vvhere […] the other fraughteth his veſſel vvith ſheep: […]

   1625, Peter Heylyn, “Of Peruana”, in Μικρόκοσμος [Mikrókosmos]. A Little Description of the Great World. […], revised edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Iohn Lichfield and William Turner, and are to be sold by W. Turner and T. Huggins, →OCLC, page 801

2. alsoarchaicfigurativelyobsoletetransitiveTo burden or load (someone or something).

   If after this command thou fraught the Court / VVith thy vnvvorthineſſe, thou dyeſt.

   1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 370, column 1

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   From God these heavy cares are sent for our unrests; / And with such burdens for our wealth he fraughteth full our breasts.

   a. 1548 (date written), Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, “Ecclesiastes. Chapter III.”, in The Poems of Henry Howard Earl of Surrey, London: William Pickering, published 1831, →OCLC, page 90

   [H]is vvife, out of vvhoſe flocke the Ram vvas taken, had by inceſtuous copulation vvith her huſbands Nephevv fraughted her ſelfe vvith a yong one.

   1612, [John Selden], “The First Song. Illustrations.”, in Michael Drayton, edited by [John Selden], Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes] for M[athew] Lownes; I[ohn] Browne; I[ohn] Helme; I[ohn] Busbie, →OCLC, page 85

3. alsoarchaicfigurativelyobsoletetransitiveFollowed by with: to furnish or provide (something).

   […] King Henry [VIII] full fraught all thoſe vvith vvealth and revvards, vvhom he retained in his imployment.

   a. 1662 (date written), Thomas Fuller, “Cornwall”, in The History of the Worthies of England, London: […] J[ohn] G[rismond,] W[illiam] L[eybourne] and W[illiam] G[odbid], published 1662, →OCLC, page 202

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   Therefore in ſayinge that he ſeeketh to none in heauẽ ſaue only god, he reiecteth all the counterfet Gods with which the comon errour & foly of yͤ world fraughteth heauen.

   1571, John Calvin, “[Commentary on Psalm 73:25]”, in Arthur Golding, transl., The Psalmes of Dauid and Others. With M. Iohn Caluin’s Commentaries, London: […] Thomas East and Henry Middelton; for Lucas Harison, and G[e]orge Byshop, →OCLC, 1st part, folio 279, verso, column 1

   [H]ee [Henry I of England] tooke chiefe pleaſure to reſide in his nevv Palace, vvhich himſelfe built at Oxford, both for the delight he had in learned men, himſelfe being very learned, and for the vicinity of his nevv Parke at VVoodſtocke, vvhich hee had fraught vvith all kind of ſtrange beaſts, vvherein hee much delighted, as Lyons, Leopards, Lynces, Camels, Porcupines, and the like.

   1611, Iohn Speed [i.e., John Speed], “Henrie, the First of that Name, the Fortieth One Monarch of the English-men: […]”, in The History of Great Britaine under the Conquests of yͤ Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. […], London: […] William Hall and John Beale, for John Sudbury and George Humble, […], →OCLC, book IX ([Englands Monarchs] […]), paragraph 59, page 442, column 2

   [W]hen his better earnings have fraught his trencher vvith a vvarm and pleaſing morſell, and his cup vvith a ſtronger liquor, hovv chearfully is he affected vvith that happy variety; and in the ſtrength of it digeſts many of his thinner meales?

   1645, Jos[eph] Hall, “Sect[ion] XII. Consideration of the Benefits of Poverty.”, in The Remedy of Discontentment: Or, A Treatise of Contentation in whatsoever Condition: […], London: […] J. G. for Nath[aniel] Brooks, […], published 1652, →OCLC, pages 60–61

   Synonyms: equip, supply

4. ScotlandalsofigurativelyobsoletetransitivenauticalTo hire (a vessel) to transport cargo or passengers.
5. ScotlandalsofigurativelyobsoletetransitivenauticalTo transport (cargo or passengers) in a vessel; to freight.
6. alsofigurativelyintransitiveobsoleteTo form the cargo or passengers of a vessel.

   Had I byn any God of povver, I vvould / Have ſuncke the Sea vvithin the Earth, or ere / It ſhould the good Ship ſo haue ſvvallovv'd, and / The fraughting Soules within her.

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 2, column 1

comparative more fraught · comparative rare fraughter · superlative most fraught · rare superlative fraughtest

1. alsofigurativelyobsoletenauticalOf a boat, ship, or other vessel: laden with cargo.

   The ſhippes retyre with riches full yfraught, […]

   1576, George Gascoigne, “The Fruites of Warre, Written vppon This Theame, Dulce Bellum Inexpertis, […]”, in The Posies of George Gascoigne Esquire. […], London: […] H[enry] Bynneman for Richard Smith, […], →OCLC, stanza 107, page cxxxvj

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   Theſe Shippes were fraught with men and women, and had to theyr Captayne one called Bartholoin or Partholin.

   1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “The Historie of Englande”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC, page 28, column 1

   [I]n the narrovv ſeas that part / The French and Engliſh, there miſcarried / A veſſel of our country richly fraught; […]

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene viii], signature [D4], verso

   Of all the Paſſions that poſſeſs Mankind, / The Love of Novelty rules moſt the Mind, / In ſearch of this from Realm to Realm vve roam, / Our Fleets come fraught vvith every Folly home.

   1756 February 3 (first performance), Samuel Foote, “Prologue, Spoken by Mr. Foote”, in The Englishman Return’d from Paris, Being the Sequel to The Englishman in Paris. A Farce […], London: […] Paul Vaillant, […], published 1756, →OCLC, page [5]

   The peasant without fear shall guide / Down smooth canal or river wide / His painted bark of cane, / Fraught, for some proud bazaar's arcades, / With chestnuts from his native shades, / And wine, and milk, and grain.

   1827, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “[Miscellaneous Poems, Inscriptions, etc.] The Marriage of Tirzah and Ahirad.”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871, →OCLC, page 446

   Synonyms: freighted · Antonyms: unfraught, unfreighted

2. alsofigurativelyobsoleteFollowed by with: carrying, or charged or loaded up with (usually something negative); accompanied by; entailing.

   [O]ne the other fiercely did encounter, / Like Lions two yfraught with boyling wrath, […]

   1566, Euripides, “Iocasta: A Tragedie Written in Greke by Euripides, […]”, in George Gascoigne, Francis Kinwelmershe, transl., A Hundreth Sundrie Flowres Bounde up in One Small Poesie. […], London: […] [Henry Bynneman and Henry Middleton for] Richarde Smith, published 1573, →OCLC, Act V, scene ii, page 148

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   Fayre boſome fraught vvith vertues richeſt treſure, / The neaſt of loue, the lodging of delight: / the bovvre of bliſſe, the paradice of pleaſure, / the ſacred harbour of that heuenly ſpright.

   1595, Edmunde Spenser [i.e., Edmund Spenser], “[Amoretti.] Sonnet LXXVI”, in Amoretti and Epithalamion. […], London: […] [Peter Short] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, signature [E7], recto

   In this Chapter vve have a large Diſcourſe from the great Preacher of Righteouſneſs; A Diſcourſe fraught vvith all the commending Excellencies of Speech; […]

   1660 August 7 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar); first published 1715, Robert South, “A Discourse Preached at St. Mary’s Church in Oxon, before the University, on the 29th of July 1660, being the Time of the King’s Commissioners Meeting there, soon after the Restauration, for the Visitation of that University”, in Twelve Sermons Preached at Several Times, and upon Several Occasions, volume IV, London: […] G. James, for Jonah Bowyer […], →OCLC, page 3

   Liberty, fraught vvith bleſſings as it is, vvhen unabuſed, has, perhaps been abuſed to our deſtruction.

   1755, [Edward Young], “Letter V. The Conclusion.”, in The Centaur Not Fabulous. […], London: […] A[ndrew] Millar […]; [a]nd R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], →OCLC, page 367

   That which promised happiness when we were one in heart, is fraught with misery now that we are two.

   1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Two. The First of the Three Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 66

   The government and the legislature, each in its own sphere, is deeply responsible for the continuance of a state of things which is fraught with danger to the State.

   1844 February 19 (date delivered), [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “[Speeches.] A Speech Delivered in the House of Commons on the 19th of February 1844.”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871, →OCLC, page 658

   Synonyms: rife · Antonyms: unfraught

3. alsofigurativelyobsoletespecificallyCarrying or loaded with anxiety, fear, or stress, for example, due to complexity or difficulty; distressed; also, causing distress; distressing.

   a fraught relationship    a fraught process

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   Nor less her son the like encouraged she / To party bitterness, that was in her, / Ev'n of the fraughtest growth that well could be, / Surpassing most of men's, […]

   1878, Benj[amin] G. Herre, “Wyman’s Ordeal. A Partisan Tale.”, in Eratics: Or, Love Stories, Lancaster, Pa.: Jno. [Jon.?] H. Pearsol, […], →OCLC, scene iii, stanza XXI, page 180

   In all of those respects it was a vocabulary that accommodated within itself (so to speak) the fraught transition from Gemeinschaft to Gesellschaft, or 'community' to 'society'. This transition was only made fraughter for contemporaries – and muddier for historians – by the politicization of commonwealth after 1640 and its sequestration by ideologues and partisans.

   2010, Philip Withington, “The Rise and Fall of ‘Commonwealth’”, in Society in Early Modern England: The Vernacular Origins of Some Powerful Ideas, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire; Malden, Mass.: Polity Press, →ISBN, part II (Keywords), page 166

   But ever since the concept of "hamartia" recurred through Aristotle's Poetics, in an attempt to describe man's ingrained iniquity, our impulse has been to identify a telling defect in those brought suddenly and dramatically low. With [Oscar] Pistorius, that task is fraught.

   2014 October 21, Oliver Brown, “Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years – sport afforded no protection against his tragic fallibilities: Bladerunner's punishment for killing Reeva Steenkamp is but a frippery when set against the burden that her bereft parents, June and Barry, must carry [print version: No room for sentimentality in this tragedy, 13 September 2014, page S22]”, in The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 Nov 2023, Sport section

   Installing lift shafts in station buildings which were not originally designed to accommodate them can be a fraught exercise, but a necessary one if the legitimate aspiration of the travelling public for step-free access is to be achieved. At Sudbury Hill, on London Underground's Piccadilly Line extension out to the north-western suburbs, Transport for London has achieved this with aplomb.

   2022 December 14, Robin Leleux, “A Royal Occasion as Heritage Projects Honoured: Sudbury Hill”, in Rail, number 972, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 57

   Synonyms: wrought-up · Antonyms: unfraught

4. alsofigurativelyobsoleteFollowed by with: furnished, provided.

   Mules after theſe, Camels and Dromedaries, / And VVaggons fraught vvith Utenſils of vvar.

   1671, John Milton, “The Third Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 72, lines 334–335

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   [W]hen the worlde is fraughted with ſo manye varlettes, that it will be a long time ere a man ſhall diſcerne the faythful from the Hipocrites.

   [1574, Augustine Marlorate [i.e., Augustin Marlorat], “[Revelation 2:2]”, in Arthur Golding, transl., A Catholike Exposition vpon the Reuelation of Sainct Iohn. […], London: […] H[enry] Binneman, for L[ucas] Harison, and G[eorge] Bishop, →OCLC, folio 32, recto

   Hovv vvondrouſly vvould he her face commend, / Aboue that Idole of his fayning thought, / That all the vvorld ſhold vvith his rimes be fraught?

   1596, Edm[und] Spenser, “An Hymne of Heavenly Beautie”, in Fowre Hymnes, London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, page 43

   Come ſir, I vvould you vvould make vſe of that good vviſedome vvhereof I knovv you are fraught, and put avvay theſe diſpoſitions, that of late tranſforme you from vvhat you rightly are.

   c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […], published 1608, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], signature D, verso

   So, in naturall Hiſtorie, vvee ſee there hath not beene that choiſe and iudgement vſed, as ought to haue beene, as may appeare in the vvritings of Plinius, Cardanus, Albertus, and diuers of the Arabians, being fraught vvith much fabulous matter, a great part, not onely vntryed, but notoriouſly vntrue, to the great derogation of the credite of naturall Philoſophie, […]

   1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folios 21, verso – 22, recto

   The firſt Ingredient, tovvards the Art of Canting, is a competent Share of Invvard Light: that is to ſay, a large Memory, plentifully fraught vvith Theological Polyſyllables, and myſterious Texts from holy VVrit, applied and digeſted by thoſe Methods, and Mechanical Operations already related: […]

   1704, [Jonathan Swift], “A Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit. In a Letter to a Friend. A Fragment.. Sect[ion] II.”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], published 1705, →OCLC, page 307

   Synonyms: equipped, supplied · Antonyms: unfraught