Chafe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chafed; p pr. & vb. n. Chafing.]
Etymology: [OE. chaufen to warm, OF. chaufer, F. chauffer, fr. L. calefacere, calfacere, to make warm; calere to be warm + facere to make. See Caldron.]
1. To ecxite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and make warm. To rub her temples, and to chafe her skin. Spenser.
2. To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate. Her intercession chafed him. Shak.
3. To fret and wear by rubbing; as, to chafe a cable. Two slips of parchment which she sewed round it to prevent its being chafed. Sir W. Scott.
Syn. -- To rub; fret; gall; vex; excite; inflame.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Chafe, v. i.
To rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction. Made its great boughs chafe together. Longfellow. The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores. Shak.
2. To be worn by rubbing; as, a cable chafes.
3. To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated. Spenser. He will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter. Shak.
Chafe, n.
1. Heat excited by friction.
2. Injury or wear caused by friction.
3. Vexation; irritation of mind; rage. The cardinal in a chafe sent for him to Whitehall. Camden.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists chafe only as an antonym, under revolve.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.