To fret over something is to feel or express worry, annoyance, or annoyance about it. The earliest senses of this term in English had to do with devouring or consuming in the literal sense—as in moths fretting your favorite sweater (heaven forbid!). The verb has of course evolved since then, with the theme of consuming taking a turn: rather than expressing the act of consuming, fret now conveys being consumed or eaten by something. Interestingly, the critters who would do the fretting were usually small (like moths), which perhaps explains why the current sense of fret suggests incremental or gradual gnawing away at one’s peace of mind.

Something that is typical is characteristic or distinctive of a certain type or specimen. Something that is quintessential is not only characteristic or distinctive of a type, but goes a step further to capture the pure and essential essence of it—or to embody it perfectly. Quintessential is used to talk about people or things that are exactly as one might imagine or hope for them to be, based on widely circulated and understood ideas or ideals.

To safeguard something is to guard, protect, or secure it. Often this term suggests taking forceful measures to ensure something does or does not happen. As a result, the term conveys a degree of assurance that the safety of something is guaranteed. Safeguard is more likely to be used of ideas or concepts—immaterial things—than it is of property or physical objects. For instance, you’re more likely to hear of a leader or governing body taking measures to safeguard the rights of a specific group than to safeguard a wetland, the latter being better suited for use with the verb protect.