detrition

American  

[dih-trish-uhn] / dɪˈtrɪʃ ən /

noun

1. the act of wearing away by rubbing.

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detrition British  

/ dɪˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of rubbing or wearing away by friction

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Etymology

Origin of detrition

1665–75; < Medieval Latin dētrītiōn- (stem of dētrītiō ), equivalent to Latin dētrīt ( us ) (past participle of dēterere; see detritus) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Omaha Intelligencer," which has escaped the detrition of the thirty-six thousand days and nights, he will say,— "Why, this was the beginning of what we do now!

From The Brick Moon and Other Stories by Hale, Edward Everett

Friction -- N. friction, attrition; rubbing, abrasion, scraping &c. v.; confrication†, detrition, contrition†, affriction†, abrasion, arrosion†, limature†, frication†, rub; elbow grease; rosin; massage; roughness &c.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark

Mr. Jukes Brown, whom I have just quoted, says: “The Wold hills must have been, in some way, exposed to a severe and long-continued detrition, when erosive agencies were very active.”

From Records of Woodhall Spa and Neighbourhood Historical, Anecdotal, Physiographical, and Archaeological, with Other Matter by Walter, James Conway

Another is the constant repetition of certain words and phrases which have lost their meaning by detrition and are known to all.

From American Sketches 1908 by Whibley, Charles

Nowadays it has become the custom to place these slabs upright against the walls, thus preventing further detrition.

From Donatello, by Lord Balcarres by Crawford, David Lindsay, Earl of