Flited

Part of speech: INVALID

Definitions

1. Past tense of an archaic verb meaning to scold someone harshly or to argue angrily in words
2. Quarrelled bitterly or reproached someone with harsh words, an old-fashioned way of saying one argued
3. Berated or wrangled verbally with another person, a term used in older English for engaging in a heated dispute

Etymology: "Flited" is the past tense of "flite," a verb meaning to quarrel or scold. It comes from Middle English "flyten," from Old English "flītan," "to strive, contend." The same root gave the Old English noun "flit," meaning "strife," and the Scots "flyte," meaning "scolding." Across the Germanic languages, though, cognates such as Dutch "vlijt" and German "Fleiß" mean "zeal" or "diligence," so the original idea of striving covered both fighting and industry.