Middle English Dictionary Entry
wrā̆k(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wrā̆k(e n. Also wrack(e, wrach(e & (early) wrace, wraca, (infl.) wracæ, wræce & (errors) wrarke, wyæce, hræc; pl. wrakes & (early) wracen, (gen.) wracane. |
| Etymology | OE wracu, oblique wrace, wræce misery, vengeance & wræc, dat. wræce misery, vengeance; for sense 3. also cp. OE wræc, var. of wærc pain, suffering. Some exx. with -æ- could also be construed as ME wrēch(e n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wreke n.
1.
(a) Vengeance, revenge, retribution; also, divine vengeance or retribution; punishment; a punishment; heven ~; taken (nimen) ~;
(b) an act of punishment or revenge; also, an instrument of vengeance; ?also, a time of retribution [3rd quot.];
(c) vengefulness.
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)96/2 : On ælcen deme sceal beon æigðer gea mildheortnysse, gea wraca, for þan þe heora naðer ne mæig beon wel abuten oðren, þe læste on þære mildheortnysse ane forgyfe his heringmannen orsorhnysse to synegien.
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Elucid.(Vsp D.14)141/33 : Of þan yfela mannen God sylf nymð þa wræce.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)10/28 : Ða eode he ofstlice in to heom…& heom sceawian ongan ða mycel wrace þe him god þurh ða ȝyrdan on asend hæfde.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)51 : Hie…brohten godes wraðe uppen hem, and he nam stronge wrache þer-of.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)161 : Godes wrake cumeð on þis woreld to wrekende on sunfulle men here gultes.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)148/2 : Twa þinges beoð þet godd haueð edhalden to him seoluen…wurðschipe & wrake.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1194 : Ich wat þarschal beo niþ and wrake.
- (?a1300) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.74 ()91 : Tol, Tem, Sok, et Sak wt yryn’ and with water deme and do wrak.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)3039 : Tristrem…Þis wil þe torn to wrake: Of breteyne douke schal he be.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)397 : Þe wrake gan biginne & wiþ wreþe þai went atvinne.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)90/485 : The third dedely syn…is wrath…Whare-thurgh a man wilnesse for to take wrake Or wickedly to venge him opon his euen-cristen.
- c1390 Ȝhit is god (Vrn)60 : Þe Pestilens and þe eorþe-quake…Beo-tokenes þe grete vengaunce & wrake Þat schulde falle for synnes sake.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)890 : Til þat worm þan drightin spak wordes bath o wrath and wrak [Göt: wrack].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11554 : On þe sakles he [Herod] suld ta wrake.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)718 : Þe wykked & þe worþy schal on wrake suffer?
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)185 : He watz flowen for ferde of þe flode lotes In-to þe boþem of þe bot…On-helde by þe hurrok, for þe heuen wrache.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3294 : Þe cloudis and skyes…Sodeynly wexen were so blake, Liche as þe goddis wolde haue take wrak.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)6/205 : Egeas dred þe puple wrake.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2897 : The Caldeies by myhti violence…for to taken wrake…ther wallis brake.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.PPeace (Hrl 2255)138 : Ther be…fals tyrauntes vengable to do wraak; Caym slouh Abel for his gret equite.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)1451 : Saturne…Lost hys membres of engendrure By Iubyter…He put him from his region And on hys fader took gret wrake.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1585 : Be they nat maad…Myn hornys, for to take wrak On shrewes?
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9)319 : Þe batell I take…And I schalle wurche the wrake!
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)36/22 : He made to sle all þe chyldre…And for wrach schuld falle on hymselfe…a chyld of his owne…yn þe contrey was slayn among oþer.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)5543 : If of synne man not amende, A sharper scourge he shal hem sende, Þat scourge is a swerd of wrake.
b
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)29/32 : Gyf þu wystest hwæt þe toweard is, þonne weoþe þu med me; Witodlice on þyssen dæige þu wunest on sibbe, ac þa towearden wracen synd bedigelode fram þinen eagen.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)30/38 : Seo towearde wrace is nu bedigelod fram þinen eagen.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)31/34 : Hire bearn on deaðe hreoseð, þonne þa unalefedlice þohtes, þe heo nu acænð, byð on þære ændenextan wrace eallunge toworpene.
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)89/26 : Þa com Godes bebod ofer heom, eall swa heo ær abæden, þæt wæs his wraca, þæt heo syððen æfre unwurðe wæron on heora lifdagen.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)61 : Bute [we] turnen to gode anradliche, he wile his swerd dragen þat is his wrake.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2888 : Fire and brinstan was þe wrak; Oute of kind þe sin was don.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)4950 : Now ys commyn our alde sakis, wille liȝt on vs wiþ harde wrakis [Vsp: wrakes].
c
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.478 : He loked on him wiþ michel wrake Sternliche wiþ his eyȝen blake.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)837 : Þe wrangwis wit þar waful wrak Þar þai biginning gan to tak.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6571 : Hij ben wiþouten cloþes naked, And hardy hij ben and ful of wrake.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)4136 : Ioseph ab Aramathie wiþ wrake Was done in prisoun for Goddes sake.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)10335 : I mette a cherl…Wych in the way a-gayn me wente…Hys look, hys cher, al for the wrak.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1451 : The knyghtis answerd with wo and wrake…That she hathe launcelot du lake Browght oute of ouere companye.
2.
(a) Destruction; ruin; annihilation, obliteration; also, a destructive force [quot. ?a1450]; an assault, attack [quot. a1450-1509]; gon to (unto) ~, ben gone to ~; on (upon) the ~, on the brink of destruction, annihilation, or ruin;
(b) violation; also, ruination;
(c) disgrace;
(d) death; gon to ~, wenden to (unto) ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)40 : Þe king…Out of lond exiled him, Wiþ michel wer & wrake.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)9204 : Ierusalem was stroyed & take; Þat kyngdome fel in to wrake.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.85 : What þorw werre and wrake and wycked hyfdes, May no preiour pees make in no place.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.161 : Ner writers, al were out of mynde…of nature and kynde The trewe knowyng schulde haue gon to wrak.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4142 : Lamedoun his peple sawe goo bake, For Pelleus brouȝt hem so to wrake.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1301 : On Grekis side…Swiche rouþe he kauȝt vp-on his distresse, To se hym stonde so niȝe vp-on þe wrak.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.71 : Her party turneth on þe wrak, And her hope is fully put a-bak.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2415 : Antropos wil suffre it be noon oþer Þat is maistresse & guyer of þe rother Of Dethis ship, til al go vn-to wrak.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2829 : At disavauntage, & pleinly oute of Ioynt, Of his lyf stondyng on þe wrak…Achilles cam falsly at þe bak, Assaillynge hym whan he was half ded.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.2581 : Graccus parti goth day be day to wrak.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)12.10 : Oriable thi Cite they han take, And Abowtes In-virown thei don wrake, That so the Contre distroied is be him Into the Castel Of valachim.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)19128 : These Sesoignes…distroyed the lond and dede mochel wrake.
- a1450 Castle Love(1) (BodAdd B.107)1559 : The eyȝhte day betokynþ gret wrache; All ȝende þe world the erthe shall quake.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2190 : Werke wrake to þis wonys.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1570 : To wenden þey haue jtyȝt To þe cyte of Carpentras þere Kyng Modard hymselff was…Kyng Rychard hys hostel gan take, Þere he gan hys ferste wrak.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)581 : He say þe wrake on hem wende & away tourneþ With twelf maystres made of Moyses lawe.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)21339 : As I stood vp-on the wrak, Evene thus to me she spak.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3567 : Gaynor, the kynges wyffe, Wyste that All was gone to wrake.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)840 : On þi goodis we shullen do wrake, And alle þi beestes we sholen slo.
b
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.49/15 : Where oure dede and purpos ys of the wracke of chastite, no lawe no custome is to be consellyd but oonly the rewarde of vnclennesse is to be attendid.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)7727 : Lat no man…with hys wordys falsly smyte, Malycyously to make wrak Off hys neyhebour.
c
- a1475 Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)446 : The kyng dide calle two of hise clerkis…Forto dispute wiþ Sydrak, But he broghte hem sone to wrak And ouercome hem in her resoun.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8493 : A-forn his swerd Grekis go to wrak.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2215 : Vpon his foon he rolled it at onys, That ten of hem wenten vnto [vr. to] wrak.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4308 : Grekys folowen…That many on that day goth to wrak.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)15 : Affter Trinite Sonday was the Rysynge off the Comyns…And many fflemmynges loste here heedes…And Jurrours went also to Wrake, wher that they myht be ffounde.
3.
(a) Physical pain or suffering; also, harm, injury; eie (hed, thigh, etc.) ~, pain or an ache in the eye (head, thigh, etc.);
(b) an ailment.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)237/9 : Gif hwa si on heafod-wræce, æfter baðe smyre mid þam on þrym nyhtum.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)249/3 : Wid fota wræce, ȝif se inra dæl þæs sceos byð fixenhyd…smire mid ele þa fet.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)251/15 : Wið wambe wyæce [OE wræce] nim haran helan, ber on þine hedclaðe.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)259/4 : Wið þeoþwrace gate tord cned swiþe, þæt hit sy swylce sealf, & smyre mid þa þeoh; sona hi byþ hal.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)265/1 : Eahhræc [OE Eagwræc] on weȝ to done ȝenim fulfes swyrþre eaȝe & hyt tosting & wryþ to þan eaȝon.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)9 : Þet wes þa laȝe þa: ilke wrake þe ic dude þe, þu scoldest don me.
- a1275(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Trin-C B.14.39)131/611 : Ches þu neuere to fere þen luþere lusninde mon, for he þe wile wrake don.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)21/474 : Boute þow be me consaile do, Þow miȝt now sone bringe vs bo In meche wrake.
- c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)79/338 : He tok þat child wiþouten hete and bar it hom wiþ outen wrake.
- 1372 In place (Adv 18.7.21)p.43 : Þe Iewes him wrouthten miche wrake.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)1230 : My modyr was neuere ȝit gylty with non man…but swich a body as hire was take, sche hath forth browht with gret wrake.
- c1450(?a1370) Winner & W.(Add 31042)198 : Wend with me are any wrake falle To oure comely kyng.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.29 : Was no lord be-syde þat wold do hym wrake.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)27/138 : With the shal no man fyght nor do the no kyn wrake.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)5933 : Wher with the bake or with swerd-egge gette, To this monstre might noght do hurt ne wrake With yre, stile, ne tre, hou-so it gan make.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)459 : So shall we smyte þeron woundys fyve; We wyll not spare to wyrke yt wrake.
b
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38)1975 : God had sende on hym a wrake, That in the palsye can he schake.
4.
(a) Distress, misery, woe; also, trouble; ~ and dol, wo (sorwe, wand-reth) and ~;
(b) misfortune, disaster; also, a calamity, disastrous incident; upon the ~, on the verge of disaster.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)64/17 : He bið wracane sunæ þe ðe wracæ iearnæð.
- ?c1335 Swet ihc hend (Hrl 913)p.84 : Wo and wrake sal fram þe rake Wiþ fendis grimme and felle.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1815 : He wol þe chacy as ys fo & werche þe sorwe & wrake.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)136 : That wakenes crist, and gers him her Al thair wandreth and thair wrake.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)137 : Haue mercie on vs…þou þat wostis þo worlds wrake.
- a1425 By a forest (Bod 596)98 : A cusse it is þe deuel-is gynne; Oft of it ariseth woo & wrake.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)23.158 : To Evere lastyng Consail þou schalt be take, And be browht from wo & wrake.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)3405 : Ȝe schal suffre wo & wrake And bide here in grete torment To þe day of iuggement.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.866 : She is euere in stody…Þis wil turne vs alle to wrake and to doole.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)189/50 : He xall suffer for mannys sake…moch gret sorow and wrake.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)706 : In heuyn he xall hys state restore And saue hys sowle ffro woo & wrake.
b
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)46 : Lene þi good to trewe men Þat þer-of falle no wrake.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.832 : Vnhappely he is putte abak, And anoþer, þat stood vp-on þe wrak, And of losse was plaunged in distresse, Þei reysed han vn-to hyȝe ryches.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2861 : His hors affraied, ther fill a sodeyn wrak: Doun from a roche pendant…He and his chaar wer drownyd bothe Ifeere.
5.
Transgression, wrongdoing; wrong, evil; also, a sin; bi ~, evilly, deceitfully.
Associated quotations
- c1300 Gabriel fram evene king (Arun 248)53 : Þe [read: he] forgiue hus senne and wrake, and clene of euri gelt us make.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)73/2095 : Eche hordom ne parteþ nauȝt…Ne þaȝ a wyf by-gyled be Of an oþer by wrake.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Abp.& N.(Phys-E)p.91 : We wil…apon us take Al thi sin and al thi wrak.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19582 : Þai gaf it na wight als for will Þai had o wrak or oþer ill, Bot for rightwisnes.
- a1450 Dux Moraud (BodPoet f.2)243 : To penawns I aue me take, For þat wykkyd wrake.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)9734 : I may amendes make To king Aufreus of al this wrake.
- c1450 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 853)327 : Waite þou worche no man wrake to venge anothir man-is mood.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)1.43 : The braunchis aboue boren grett charge With diamauntis derue y-douutid of all That wroute ony wrake within or withoute.
- a1500(1413) ?Hoccl.Poems PS (Eg 615)p.xxxvii/5 : Thu thi sone hast to the deth be-take, That the offended neuere, ne dide wrake.
6.
Hostility, enmity; strife, discord; also, anger [quot. c1400].
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2016 : Elc mon rauede oðer þeah hit weren his broðer; wrake wes on londe.
- a1350 Dream Bk.(1) (Hrl 2253)46 : Armes ysen & eke bataille, hit is strif & wrake wiþoute faille.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.411 : Hir catel schulde slake And þey vseþ ofte wrake.
- c1400(1375) Canticum Creat.(Trin-O 57)409 : Adam…seide þus wiþoute wrake: ‘Al þe sorwe þat Eue gynneþ make Me þenkeþ þat y wel here.’
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)2254 : Quoþ oure Lord ‘…why Come ȝe þus priuely Wiþ wepoun & with myche wrake As a þeefe me to take?’
- c1450 Lover's Mass (Frf 16)36 : Nouther be Est nouther be Southe Lyst Daunger putte me a bake, And dysdeyn to make wrake Wolde hyndre me in myn entente.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1162/4 : And there aryse warre and wrake…there woll many kynges and grete lordis holde with sir Launcelot.
- a1475(a1400) Man ȝyf þat (Hrl 3954)401 : He askyd good for goddis sake; Ye rych wex ful of has wrarke [read: wrake].
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.TWoe (Hrl 2255)96 : Hertis devided have caused mochel wrake…Betwene Burgoynoun and hateful Armynake…Shedyng of bloode, slaughter and aduersite.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)1675 : The knyghtis stode in chambyr and spake…syr gawayne And mordreite, that mykelle couthe of wrake.