An archaic or dialectal term meaning to frown or to show displeasure on the face.
From Old English frēon or possibly related to Old Norse frá. A rare medieval and early modern English word that largely disappeared from standard usage.
This is one of those beautiful old words that survives mainly in Scottish dialect—'freen' for frowning appears in old poetry, but most speakers switched to 'frown' because it was clearer and more universally understood.
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