Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GRIND, v.t. [pret. and pp. ground. Sax. grindan. This word, if n is radical, may be allied to rend; if not, it coincides with grate. See Class Rn, No. 9, to make smooth, as mollis in L. allied to molo.]

1. To break and reduce to fine particles or powder by friction; to comminute by attrition; to triturate. Take the millstones and grind meal. Is. xlvii. We say, to grind meal, but this is an elliptical phrase. The true phrase is, to grind corn to meal.
2. To break and reduce to small pieces by the teeth. Dryden.
3. To sharpen by rubbing or friction; to wear off the substance of a metallic instrument, and reduce it to a sharp edge by the friction of a stone; as, to grind an ax or sythe.
4. To make smooth; to polish by friction; as, to grind glass.
5. To rub one against another. Harsh sounds, and the grinding of one stone against another, make a shivering or horror in the body and set the teeth on edge. Bacon.
6. To oppress by severe exactions; to afflict cruelly; to harass; as, to grind the faces of the poor. Is. iii.
7. To crush in pieces; to ruin. Matth. xxi.
8. To grate; as, grinding pains. Dryden.