Obs. Forms: 56 freyght, 67 fraight, 68 freight. [Contracted pa. pple. of FREIGHT v.]
1. Freighted, laden.
1494. Fabyan, Chron. VII. 494. The ryuer of Loyer, wher at ye season certayne shyppes laye freyght with vytall.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXIX. 736. And so [he] dispatched away the ships a second time fraight and laden with the spoiles of enemies.
1649. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), III. 39. Prince Rupert hath taken at sea near upon twenty sail of very considerable ships, richly freight with wines and other commodities from divers ports in Spain.
b. transf. and fig. (Cf. fret full, FRET v.6)
1565. Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 463. It was written by a man of an iron face, and a ledden harte, and is freight full of most shamelesse lies.
1587. Turberville, Trag. T. (1837), 214.
The iades were fully fraight | |
with heauie burdens on their backes. |
1600. Holland, Livy, XXIII. xii. (1609), 481. Two strong holds where the enemies were encamped, full and fraight [plena] (we must needs think) of prizes and victuals.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 134, 3 Aug., ¶ 2. Each Paragraph is freight either with useful or delightful Notions, and I never fail of being highly diverted or improvd.
2. Fraught, provided, abounding with.
1551. R. Robinson, trans. Mores Utop. (Arb.), 167. This yle is fraight with both bounteously.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 35.
The king was greatly moued at her speach, | |
And all with suddein indignation fraight, | |
Bad on that Messenger rude hands to reach. |
1623. Webster, Duchess Malfi, V. i.
It may be that the sudden apprehension | |
Of danger,for Ill go in mine own shape, | |
When he shall see it fraight with love and duty, | |
May draw the poison out of him. |