Wreak v. World English Historical Dictionary

Wreak v. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1928, rev. 2024. Wreak v. Forms: 1–2 wrecan, 2 wrecon, 2–4 wreken (3 wræken, wærken, wreoken, Orm. wrekenn), 5 wrekene, wrekyn; 3–7 wreke (4 wrekke), 4–5 wrek (4 wreck), wreek, 5 wreeke, wreike, 5–6 Sc. wreik, 6–7 wreake, 6– wreak (7–8 reak); Sc. 5 wryk(e, 6 wrik. Pa. t. 1 wræc (uuraec, pl. wræcon), 2–3 wrac, 3 pl. wrake, 4–5 wrake, 5 wrak, 6–7, 8–9 arch. wroke (9 wrok); 4 wrek. Weak: 4–5 wreked, 4 -id, 5 -yd, Sc. -yt, 6– wreaked (8 raked, 9 wreak’d, Sc. wreakit). Pa. pple. 1 wrecen (ʓewrecen), 3–4 wreken (iwreken), 3–5 wreke (4 y-, 4–5 iwreke); 3–7, 9 arch. wroken (4–6 y-, 5 iwroken), 4, 5–6 Sc. wrokin, 4–5 wrokyn, 5 -yne, 6 wrokne, Sc. wrokkin, wrockin, 6–7 wrocken; 4–5, 9 arch. wroke (4–5, 6 arch. ywroke, 5 iwroke), 6 wrooke, Sc. wrok. Weak: 6, 9 wreaked, 6 wrekte, wreackt, 7 wreakt, 9 U.S. reeked. [Common Teut.: OE. wrecan str. v. (wræc, wrǽcon, wrecen), = OFris. wreka (WFris. wrekke), OS. wrekan (MLG. and LG., MDu. and Du. wreken; also LG. wräken), OHG. rëchan, rëhhan (MHG. rechen, G. rächen), ON. and Icel. reka (Norw. reka; Sw. vräka), Goth. wrikan (to persecute), f. the Teut. stem wrek-, pre-Teut. *wreg-, cognate with that of L. urgēre. Cf. WRACK v.1, WRECHE v., WRECK v.2, also A-, BEWREAK vbs.]

1   I.  † 1. trans. a. To drive, press, force to move. Obs. (OE. only.)

2 c. 725.  Corpus Gloss. (Hessels), T 213. Torquet, uuraec.

3 a. 1000.  Riddles, I. 1 (Gr.). Hwylc is hæleþa þæs horsc … Þæt þæt mæʓe asecgan, hwa mec on sið wræce? Ibid., XXI. 11. Me þurh hrycg wrecen hongaþ under an orþonc pil.

4   † b.  To cast or throw out of a place. Obs.

5 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3148. Ilc folc is to fode framen,… And noȝt ðor-of [sc. of a kid] vt huse wreken. Ibid., 3191. Ðor he doluen,… and hauen up-broȝt ðe bones ut of ðe erðe wroken.

6   † c.  transf. With out. To pass or spend (time). Cf. DRIVE v. 21. Obs.–1

7 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1547. Quen sa fele yeier ar wroken oute, Þe mikel spere es rune aboute.

8   † 2.  To banish or expel, to drive out or away. Obs.

9 c. 1100.  O. E. Chron. (MS. D.), an. 1076. Sume hi wurdon ʓeblende, & sume wrecen of lande.

10 a. 1300[?].  Gregory, 216. Sche halpe þe pouer and þe lame, þe deuel fram hir for to wreke.

11 1340.  Ayenb., 215. Huerout he wrek þo þe zyalde and boȝte ine þe temple.

12   fig. and transf.  1340.  Ayenb., 189. Huanne he his ssel wreke out of his uelaȝrede.

13 a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 4428. For all ȝoure wisdom, I-wis, is wroken to ȝour tongis.

14   II.  3. To give vent or expression to, to exercise or gratify (wrath, anger, etc.); to vent.

15 a. 900.  Genesis, 2508. Þas folc slean, cynn on ceastrum mid cwealmþrea, & his torn wrecan.

16 c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), lxxxiv. 5. Ne wrec þu þine yrre, wraðe mode, of cynne on cynn.

17 c. 1200.  Ormin, 19606. Forrþi let he takenn himm To wrekenn hise tene.

18 c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 324. He schal nat ryghtfully his yre wreke.

19 1421.  26 Pol. Poems, 83. Lete not vengeance þy wraþþe wreke. Vengeance is goddis.

20 c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 4674. Darel roode wel wrothe and yll, For he had not wroken his fill.

21 1530.  Palsgr., 785/1. I wreake myne anger.

22 1577.  Holinshed, Chron., Hist. Eng., I. 231/1. The more to wreake his wrath, the King spoyled many Religious houses of their goodes.

23 1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. ix. 23. As when Dan Æolus … Sends forth the winds … Vpon the sea to wreake his fell intent.

24 1600.  Holland, Livy, 323. They were staied … in this sweetnesse of wreaking their anger, and satiating their revenge.

25 1648.  Hunting of Fox, 10. [The] heart-breaking stile of Enemies: and such Enemies too, as to wreake their malice.

26 1819.  Shelley, Cenci, IV. ii. 23. ’Tis my hate and the deferred desire To wreak it, which extinguishes their blood.

27 1870.  Bryant, Iliad, IV. I. 113. So in time to come May Agamemnon wreak his wrath.

28 1878.  Seeley, Stein, III. 315. Stein wreaked his disappointment in unsparing criticism.

29   transf.  1794.  Wordsw., Guilt & Sorrow, 103. The only creature … On whom the elements their rage might wreak.

30 1817.  Shelley, Rev. Islam, III. vii. Beneath most calm resolve did agony wreak Its whirlwind rage.

31   b.  More usu. const. on († in, against) or upon a person. (Freq. from c. 1560.)

32 c. 1200.  Ormin, 19866. Ȝho … þohhte þatt ȝho shollde onn himm Wel wrekenn hire tene.

33 c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, V. 589. Wel hastow lord y-wroke on me Þin Ire.

34 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, vii. (James Minor), 133. Þar-fore þai wrekyt þar wodnes In þis Iamis, callit þe les.

35 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, III. vii. 107. Leuer I had ye had wroken your angre vpon me.

36 1556.  Phaër, Æneid., IV. (1558), L iij. On my brother fals I wroke my tene.

37 1588.  Greene, Pandosto (1607), 9. Pandosto … determined to wreake all his wrath on poore Bellaria.

38 1627.  Drayton, Agincourt, ccvi. I neuer will retire, Vntill our Teene vpon the French we wreake.

39 1697.  Burghope, Disc. Relig. Assemb., 180. As tho’ they wou’d reak their Malice upon God.

40 1697.  Dryden, Æneis, XII. 1233. The moody Sire, to wreak his Hate On Realms.

41 1749.  Smollett, Regicide, Pref. I wreaked my Resentment upon the innocent Cause of my Disgraces.

42 1761.  Hume, Hist. Eng., lxiv. (1806), IV. 732. The church … persevered in the project of wreaking her own enmity against the nonconformists.

43 1818.  Mrs. Shelley, Frankenstein, viii. (1865), 119. That I might wreak the utmost extent of my anger on his head.

44 1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, xiii. The dwarf … wanting somebody to wreak his ill-humour upon.

45 1871.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. 112. To wreak a coward’s spite on the corpse of the dead Harold.

46   c.  refl. Of a passion, feeling, etc.: To give expression to (itself); to find utterance or free course.

47 1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. v. 5. Disleall knight, whose coward courage chose To wreake it selfe on beast all innocent.

48 1839.  De Quincey, Recoll. Lakes, Wks. 1862, II. 186. That the indignation of mankind should have wreaked itself upon the chief monsters.

49 1850.  Hawthorne, Scarlet L., xiii. In the education of her child, the mother’s enthusiasm of thought had something to wreak itself upon.

50 1887.  R. S. Storrs, in Libr. Mag., Aug., 106. The Hellenic spirit … wreaked itself in immortal expressions on the choicest marbles and temples in the world.

51   d.  To bestow or spend on a person, etc.; to expend.

52 a. 1586.  Sidney, Sonn., Wks. 1922, II. 303. She hath no other cause of anguish But Thereus love, on her by strong hand wrokne.

53 1819.  Wiffen, Aonian Hours, 107. To wreak Such love upon the task as [etc.].

54 1871.  Browning, Pr. Hohenst., 174. God … Grants each new man … Intercommunication with Himself, Wreaking on finiteness infinitude.

55 1871.  B. Taylor, Faust (1875), I. iv. 76. Mephis. Here is the genuine path for you; Yet strict attention must be given. Stud. Body and soul thereon I’ll wreak.

56   † 4.  To punish or chastise (a person); to visit with retributive punishment. Also refl. Obs.

57 c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xli. § 3. Þæt wæs þæt mon wræce & witnode hwone for his yfle.

58 a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1090. Se cyng wæs smæʓende hu he mihte wrecon his broðer Rodbeard, swiðost swencean.

59 c. 1300.  Cursor M., 11773. For to wreke þam was he bun Þat þus did cast þair goddes dun.

60 c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xxviii. 186. With the Iues he [sc. Jesus] was so stad, to ded they can hym wreke.

61 a. 1626.  Bp. Andrewes, 96 Serm. (1661), 165. To wreak ourselves for so often offering so foul indignities to Heaven.

62   transf.  a. 1658.  Lovelace, Poems (1904), 134. The desp’rate Heron … turns his last to wreak The palizadoes of his [sc. a falcon’s] Beak.

63   † b.  To injure, hurt or harm (a person). Obs.

64 c. 1440.  Bone Florence, 104. He was … all to-brokyn, Ferre travelde in harnes, and of warre wrokyn.

65 1572.  Satir. Poems Reform., xxxii. 124. Lat neuer thair micht … Haue strenth or power thame for to hurt or wreik.

66 a. 1593.  Marlowe, trans. Ovid’s Elegies, II. xi. 22. What each one speakes Beleeue, no tempest the beleeuer wreakes [L. credenti nulla procella nocet].

67 1683.  W. Walker, Phraseol. Gen., 1351. In labour the stronger wreaks the weaker. In oþere firmior (bos) imbecilliorem conficit.

68   III.  5. To avenge (a person).

69   In senses 5, 5 b, very frequent c. 1200–c. 1600. The passive construction, to be wreaked († wroken), freq. implies that the revenge is taken by the injured party, and is thus equivalent to the reflexive use.

70 Beowulf, 1385. Selre bið æʓ-hwæm þæt he his freond wrece þonne he fela murne.

71 c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xviii. 5. Forðon woedo uel hefiʓ wæs me … ðas widiua ic wræco ða ilco.

72 a. 1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 979. Hine nolden his eorðlican maʓas wrecan.

73 c. 1205.  Lay., 27612. Cumeð hidere to me, and wreke we Beduer min æm.

74 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1856. Symeon and leui it bi-speken, And hauen here sister ðor i-wreken.

75 c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 3295. Mani on slain þer lay…. Ful wele wreken er þay.

76 13[?].  Sir Beues (A.), 4466. Wrekeþ ȝour fader wiþ ȝour miȝtes.

77 a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 855. Þe wee in his wreth wrekis his modire.

78 c. 1450.  Merlin, xxv. 451. Thei thought well to be wroken whan thei saugh tyme.

79 a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl., V. 101. Therfore how will I wroken be?

80 1530.  Palsgr., 454/1. He wyll be wroken whan you shall thynke lest.

81 1586.  J. Hooker, Hist. Irel., in Holinshed, II. 13/1. He counteth it for a sufficient reuenge, that he can reuenge and be wreaked.

82 1765.  in Percy, Reliques, I. 106. And soon i’ the Gordon’s foul hartis bluid He’s wroken his dear ladie.

83 1872.  Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 355. Grant me some knight to … Kill the foul thief, and wreak me for my son.

84   refl.  c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 179. Ne wrec þu þe mid wussinge ne mid warienge.

85 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 186. Ne wrekie ȝe nout ou suluen, ne ne grucche ȝe nout.

86 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 85. To wreke hymself he þouȝte With werkes or with wordes whan he seighe his tyme.

87 c. 1407.  Lydg., Reson & Sens., 369. Antropos, hir self to wreke, Doth ful many thredes breke.

88 c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 310. Will God I leiffe, we sall ws wreke on part.

89 a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl., XIV. 267. I am as wroth as I may be, And some way I will wreak me.

90 1530.  Palsgr., 785/1. If thou cannest nat wreake the, byte the poste.

91 1596.  Spenser, F. Q., V. viii. 44. How worthily … Iustice that day of wrong her selfe had wroken.

92 1606.  Bryskett, Civ. Life, 70. They that by combat seeke to wreake themselues.

93 1659.  Somner, Dict., s.v. Wræcan, Vulgo dicimus: to wreke ones selfe, or take revenge.

94   b.  Const. of, on († o, in), or upon († up) one who has done harm, etc.

95 c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xviii. 3. Widiua … cuoeð wræc ðu mec of wiðerworde minum.

96 993.  Battle of Maldon, 279. He his sincʓyfan on þam sæmannum wurðlice wrec.

97 a. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 5. Ðanne ʓelpð he ðat he is wel iwreken of his unwine.

98 c. 1205.  Lay., 12210. [To] wreken uppen [c. 1275 vppe] Maximien Valentin & Gratien.

99 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2028. Ȝhe ðhenkeð him for to ben wreken.

100 c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 5962 (Kölbing). Þe king … Wele him wrake of his foman.

101 1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 169. I wolde be wreken on þis [B. II. 194 wroke of þo] wrecches.

102 a. 1400.  Prymer (1891), 31. In oure lordes name, y am wroken in hem.

103 c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, I. 88. Lorde,… þou wreke me apon þis man.

104 1480.  Caxton, Trevisa’s Higden (1482), 358 b. He wold be wroken vpon kyng rychard.

105 1575.  Gascoigne, Dan Barth., Dol. Disc., 50. The Goddesse of revenge devisde So to bee wreackt on my rebelling wyll.

106 1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. ii. 21. Both greedie fiers on other to be wroken. Ibid., IV. vi. 23. She … vpheld her wrathfull hand, With fell intent, on him to bene ywroke.

107   transf.  1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 148. Be war forthi thou be noght sik of thilke fievere [sc. jealousy] … For it wol in himself be wroke.

108 c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 1566. That on suche a female my flesshe wolde be wroken.

109 1561.  Norton & Sackv., Gorboduc, IV. i. Canst thou hope … that these handes will not be wrooke on thee?

110 1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. v. 102. To wreake the Loue I bore my Cozin, Vpon his body that hath slaughter’d him.

111   refl.  c. 1200.  Ormin, 914. God wollde himm wrekenn o þe preost.

112 c. 1205.  Lay., 15052. Wrekeð eow ȝif ȝe cunnen of Sexisce monnen.

113 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11963. Vr neghburs mai þam on vs wreke.

114 1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 46. Of fals Edrik fayn wild he him wreke.

115 c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 395, Balade. Hym deynyth nat to wreke hym on a flye.

116 c. 1450.  Crt. of Love, 702. She saw an egle wreke him on a fly.

117 a. 1542.  Wyatt, Poet. Wks. (1913), I. 131. Comfort thy self my wofull hert, Or shortly on thy self the wreke.

118 1561.  Norton & Sackv., Gorboduc, II. i. Attempt redresse by armes, and wreake your-self Upon his life.

119 1604.  Parsons, 3rd Pt. Three Convers. Eng., 192. The Duke thought best to vse this mans meanes, to wreake himselfe of the said Bishops.

120 1611.  Chapman, Widowes T., III. i. That I may wreake my selfe vpon my selfe.

121 1730.  T. Boston, Mem., x. (1899), 292. They usually wreaking themselves on the ministers as the cause of all public evils.

122 c. 1830.  in Child, Ball., III. 438/1. He micht hae spared my lady’s life, And wreakit himsell on me!

123 1872.  Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 800. Well that ye came, or else these caitiff rogues Had wreak’d themselves on me.

124   † c.  To revenge (a person) of (on) a wrong, injury, etc. Obs.

125 1340–70.  Alisaunder, 76. Þe King was carefull in hert, Till hee were wroken of þe wrong.

126 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Frankl. T., 56. On euery wrong a man may nat be wreken.

127 a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 3199. He will me wreke on ȝoure werke wers þan of thefes.

128 c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 4634. Be wroke he wold of sum thing.

129 c. 1450.  Erle Tolous, 1028. Syth hyt ys soo, Cryste wreke hur of hur woo.

130 a. 1529.  Skelton, Col. Cloute, 600. Then ye wyll be wroken Of euery lyght quarell.

131 1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), I. 34. To find ane way of Pechtis to be wrok Of thair injure.

132 1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. v. 21. Stirring to be wroke Of his late wrongs.

133 1591.  2nd Pt. Troub. Raigne K. John (1611), 73. Tis Gods decree to wreake us of these harmes.

134   refl.  c. 1386.  Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 620. On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke, if I wiste how.

135 c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, V. 22. About the park thai set … With vi hundreth…, All likly men, to wrek thaim of thar harmes.

136 1577.  Holinshed, Chron., II. 606/2. The man … wanted nothing but faithful subiectes to haue wroken himselfe of such wrongs.

137 1578.  T. Procter, Gorg. Gallery, B iv. That thou and I shall ioyne in ioy, and wreake vs of our wrong.

138   † d.  To deliver or rescue (a person) from or out of woe, etc. Obs. rare.

139 13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 375. Much þe bygger ȝet was my mon, Fro þou was wroken fro vch a woþe.

140 c. 1450.  Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 29. Out of whoo ȝet art not wrokyn, In helle logge þou xalt be lokyn. Ibid., 330. I xal delyvere mannys kynne,—From wo I wole hem wreke!

141   † e.  refl. To satisfy or gratify (oneself). Obs.–1

142 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. IX. 181. Whiles þow art ȝonge, and þi wepne kene, Wreke þe with wyuynge, ȝif þow wilt ben excused.

143   6.  To take vengeance or inflict retributive punishment for, to avenge or revenge (some wrong, harm or injury).

144 Beowulf, 1670. Ic … fyren-dæda wræc, deað-cwealm deniʓea.

145 c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, lxxviii. 10. Wrec blod ðiowa ðinra ðæt agoten is.

146 c. 1205.  Lay., 19365. He þohten hider wenden & wræken his fader wunden.

147 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 17332. Miself es sett to wrek þe wrang.

148 c. 1300.  Havelok, 327. Þat non ne mihte comen hire to … with hir to speken, Þat euere mihte hire bale wreken.

149 1382.  Wyclif, Deut. xxxii. 43. For the blood of his seruauntis he shal wreek.

150 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 1750. Now [is] tyme … To mene vs with manhode & our mys wreke.

151 1471.  Ripley, Comp. Alch., Ep. ii. in Ashm. (1652), 109. Of your great fortune ye be not presumptuous, Nor vengeable of my rode to wreke every wrong.

152 a. 1525.  Vergilius, in Thoms, E. E. Prose Rom. (1858), II. 23. When wyll you wreke your faders dethe?

153 1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, IX. 169. Yet list he not their wretched woe to wreake.

154 1587.  Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 141. The dome divine … Yet strikes at last, and surely wreakes the wrong.

155 1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. xi. 5. For of a womans hand it was ywroke, That of the wound he yet in languor lyes.

156 1622.  Fletcher, Prophetess, II. ii. Lend me your helping hands To wreak the Parricide.

157 1700.  Dryden, Ovid’s Met., XII. 338. Arms, Arms, the double-form’d with Fury call; To wreak their Brother’s Death.

158 1813.  Scott, Trierm., II. xxvii. Vanoc’s death must now be wroken. Ibid. (1814), Lord of Isles, IV. xxx. O Scotland! shall it e’er be mine To wreak thy wrongs in battle-line.

159 1887.  Swinburne, Locrine, IV. ii. 56. My will It is that holds me yet alive … Till all my wrong be wroken.

160   b.  Const. on or upon (a person or persons).

161 a. 900.  Juliana, 204. Þonne ic nyde sceal … on þære grimmestan godscyld wrecan.

162 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2586. Wroken on þaim sal be þat wrang.

163 1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XII. 227. Wreik on thame the mekill ill That thai and tharis has done vs till.

164 1423.  James I., Kingis Q., lxix. On my-self bene al my harmys wrokin.

165 1577.  Holinshed, Chron., Hist. Scot., I. 390/1. That he might haue wroken his grief vpon him.

166 1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. xi. 15. Perhaps this hand may … wreake your sorrow on your cruell foe.

167 1717.  Pope, Iliad, IX. 684. She … call’d the powers beneath On her own son to wreak her brother’s death.

168 1882.  Tennyson, Promise of May, I. 507. Why then the crowd May wreak my wrongs upon my wrongers.

169 1883.  R. W. Dixon, Mano, I. xii. 37. On him, [I] beseech thee, wreak my wrongs amain.

170   † c.  To vindicate (something). Obs.

171 c. 1400.  26 Pol. Poems, 18. God biddeþ vengeaunce hiȝe, And helpe trouþe be wel wroken.

172 1589.  R. Robinson, Gold. Mirr. (1851), 10. Poore clout-shooes gate their clubs, and willingly attend, To wreke there mistris cause.

173   † 7.  To visit (a fault, misdeed, evil action) with punishment; to punish (wrong-doing). Obs.

174 c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., xxxviii. § 7. Þæt is þonne hiora mildsung þæt mon wrece hiora unðeawas be hiora ʓewyrhtum. Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., xlix. 383. Ðæt he ða gyltas … wrece on scyldeʓum monnum.

175 971.  Blickl. Hom., 185. Swa se wer hit wreceþ ʓif his wif hie forhealdeþ.

176 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 161. Godes wrake cumeð on þis woreld to wrekende on sunfulle men here gultes.

177 a. 1240.  Lofsong, in O. E. Hom., I. 209. Ne bi-hold þu ham [sc. sins] nout leste þu wreoke ham on me.

178 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3067. So sal ðin hardnesse ben wreken, ðat men sulen longe ðor-after speken.

179 1338.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 77. Þat wikkednes, þat men suld haf wroken.

180 a. 1375.  Lay Folks Mass Bk., App. iv. 395. Þat god may wreke Euerich a word þat we speke.

181 1481.  Caxton, Reynard, xix. (Arb.), 46. A! reynart that ye now al thus haue your wyl I pray god to wreke it.

182 1596.  Spenser, F. Q., VI. ii. 22. There gan he … with bitter wracke To wreake on me the guilt of his owne wrong.

183 1610.  Beaum. & Fl., Faithf. Sheph., V. i. Else Pan wreak, With double vengeance, my disloyalty.

184   8.  To inflict or take (vengeance, etc.) on or upon a person; to execute or carry out by way of punishment or revenge.

185   In frequent use from c. 1830.

186 c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 30. That ye make punyssyon thereof and wrek on hym grete vengaunce.

187 1700.  Dryden, Sigism. & Guisc., 589. He left the Dame, Resolv’d … To wreak his Vengeance, and to cure her Love.

188 1758.  P. Williamson, Life & Adventures (1812), 39. So desirous was every man to have a share in wreaking his revenge on them [sc. dead Indians].

189 1772.  Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), I. 412. Xerxes … wreaked his vengeance upon Babylon.

190 1809.  W. Irving, Knickerb., IV. vii. An historian springs up, who wreaks ample chastisement on it [sc. a nation] in return.

191 1855.  Paley, Æschylus, Pref. (1861), p. xxv. Till vengeance had been wreaked for the wrongs suffered in life.

192 1872.  Tennyson, Gareth & Lynette, 1236. Thou hast wreak’d his justice on his foes.

193 1899.  Swinburne, Rosamund, II. 32/2. I would the deed Were done, the wreak of wrath were wroken, and I Dead.

194   b.  To cause or effect (harm, damage, etc.).

195 1817.  Shelley, Rev. Islam, II. xxxix. With thee … will I seek Through their array of banded slaves to wreak Ruin upon the tyrants. Ibid. (1818), Rosal. & Helen, 670. That poor and hungry men should break The laws which wreak them toil and scorn, We understand.

196 1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. ii. [In] the fog … the unpopular steamer … always was … wreaking destruction upon somebody or something.

197 1880.  Daily News, 22 Sept. Landslips … are looked for and wreak but little harm.

198   c.  To inflict or deliver (a blow, etc.); to deal.

199 1817.  Shelley, Rev. Islam, I. x. The wreathed Serpent … did ever seek Upon his enemy’s heart a mortal wound to wreak.

200 1849.  Meredith, in Chambers’ Edin. Mag., July, 16/2. There the murder-mouthed artillery … Wrok the thunder of its treachery On the skeleton brigade.

201 1897.  F. Thompson, New Poems, 55. Though they wreak Upon me stroke and again stroke.

202   9.  With out. To exact by way of punishment.

203 1879.  Momerie, Origin Evil, i. 16. Justice, which can only be appeased by wreaking out a certain quantity of agony as an equivalent for a certain quantity of sin.

204   IV.  † 10. intr. To take vengeance; to inflict punishment. Also const. on. Obs.

205 c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, cxvii. 12. In noman dryhtnes ic wreocu in him.

206 c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., lvi. 435. Ic wrice on eow æfter eowrum ʓeðeahte.

207 c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), cxlix. 7. Mid þy hi wrecan þenceað wraðum cynnum.

208 a. 1200.  Vices & Virtues, 77. Lat him wreke ðe is riht deme ouer ðe liuiende.

209 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 2049. Hu wrakeliche, wenestu, wule he, al o wraððe, wreken on þe, wrecche!

210 a. 1325.  Prose Psalter, xcviii. 9. Our God, þou herd hem; þou, God, was mercyful to hem and byginnand to wreke in alle her fyndeynges.

211 13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 198. Bot neuer ȝet … I herde Þat euer he wrek so wyþerly on werk þat he made.

212 a. 1500.  Ratis Raving, 2786. Thai here glaidly, and lytill spekis, Laith for to crab and seldin wrekis.

213 c. 1614.  Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, III. 252. Fy, now ȝowr oares employ, Sack, wreak, revenge, demolish and destroy!

214   Hence Wreaking vbl. sb.

215 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19336 (Edin.). Queþir ȝie wil driue on us þe blame Of ani wreking of [Fairf. on] þis name.

216 c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., IV. met. vii. (1868), 147. Agamenon … purged in wrekyng by þe destruccioun of troie þe loste chambres of mariage of hys broþer.

217 c. 1440.  York Myst., xxix. 323. Thy wordis and werkis will haue a wrekyng.

218 a. 1638.  Mede, Wks. (1672), 298. When our hearts … tell us it is but the wreaking of our Malice.

219 1692.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, xxxviii. 41. The Wreaking of a Malice, and … the gratifying of a Revenge.

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