To bite or chew persistently with the teeth, typically in a grinding manner. Also used figuratively to describe persistent worry or anxiety that gradually wears away at someone.
From Old English 'gnagan,' related to similar words in other Germanic languages. The 'gn-' sound pattern is ancient, possibly mimicking the actual sound of gnawing, and appears in many Indo-European languages.
The silent 'g' in 'gnaw' is a relic of Middle English pronunciation when the 'g' was actually pronounced! Other 'gn-' words like 'gnat,' 'gnarl,' and 'gnome' tell the same story of how English spelling preserves ancient sounds that have since gone silent.
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