Definition of the word pull at

The origin of the phrase "pull at" can be traced back to the Old English word "cheltan," which means "to draw or pull." This word evolved over time, and by the Middle English period, it had taken the form "pullen." The phrase "pullen at" was used to describe the action of drawing or pulling at something with a certain intensity or urgency. In the 15th century, the word "pullen" began to be replaced by the more modern form "pull," which comes from the Old Norse word "pula" meaning "to strain, draw or pull." The phrase "pull at" entered the English language during this time and was used to describe a force or compulsion that draws or pulls something or someone in a certain direction. The use of the preposition "at" in this phrase is important because it adds a sense of intensity and urgency to the action. It suggests that there is a significant force or attraction that is pulling on something. In modern English, "pull at" is commonly used to describe the impact of strong emotions, such as when a memory or experience "pulls at" a person's heartstrings. It can also be used to describe a force in nature, such as when the wind "pulls at" a tree's branches.