tempers begin to fray

:  heat of mind or emotion :  proneness to anger :  passion

:  calmness of mind :  composure

:  state of feeling or frame of mind at a particular time usually dominated by a single strong emotion

:  to dilute, qualify, or soften by the addition or influence of something else :  moderate

:  to anneal or toughen (glass) by a process of gradually heating and cooling

:  to harden (a material, such as steel) by reheating and cooling in oil

:  to do the first part of an action :  go into the first part of a process :  start

:  to come into existence :  arise

:  to have a starting point

:  scare

:  to frighten away

:  a usually disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute

:  to wear (something, such as an edge of cloth) by or as if by rubbing :  fret

:  to separate the threads at the edge of

:  strain, irritate

:  a raveled place or worn spot (as on fabric)