GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Wreak , v. i. To reck; to care.  [Obs.]
   Shak.
   
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2.       
   Wreak , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wreaked ; p. pr. & vb. n. Wreaking.] [OE. wreken to revenge, punish, drive out, AS. wrecan; akin to OFries. wreka, OS. wrekan to punish, D. wreken to avenge, G. rächen, OHG. rehhan, Icel. reka to drive, to take vengeance, Goth. wrikan to persecute, Lith. vargas distress, vargti to suffer distress, L. urgere to drive, urge, Gr. εἴργειν to shut, Skr. vṛj to turn away.  Cf. Urge, Wreck, Wretch.]
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   To revenge; to avenge.  [Archaic]
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   He should wreake him on his foes.
   Chaucer.
   
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   Another's wrongs to wreak upon thyself.
   Spenser.
   
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   Come wreak his loss, whom bootless ye complain.
   Fairfax.
   
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   To inflict or execute, especially in vengeance or passion; to hurl or drive; as, to wreak vengeance on an enemy; to wreak havoc.
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   The word wrought is sometimes assumed to be the past tense of wreak, as the phrases wreak havoc and wrought havoc are both commonly used.  In fact, wrought havoc is not as common as wreaked havoc.  Whether wrought is considered as the past tense of wreak or of work, wrought havoc has essentially the same meaning.  Etymologically, however, wrought is only the past tense of work.
   PJC
   On me let Death wreak all his rage.
   Milton.
   
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   Now was the time to be avenged on his old enemy, to wreak a grudge of seventeen years.
   Macaulay.
   
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   But gather all thy powers,
   And wreak them on the verse that thou dost weave.
   Bryant.
   
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3.       
   Wreak, n. [Cf. AS. wræc exile, persecution, misery.  See Wreak, v. t.] Revenge; vengeance; furious passion; resentment.  [Obs.]
   Shak. Spenser.
   
   1913 Webster