Middle English Dictionary Entry
wrēke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wrēke n. Also wrek. |
| Etymology | ?From OE *wrǣc-, oblique form of *wrǣc n.; also cp. ME wrēken v. & OE wreca (var. pl. gen. of wracu). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wrak(e n., wrech(e n.
1.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2927 : It was rightwis godds wreke þar again durst he not spek.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)1156 : My hande-werke als egges me, þat I sal take wreke on þe.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)17.51 : God…giues wrekes me to.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5538 : Howe suld þai þan in þe tyme of wreke Be stille and noght ogayne þam speke?
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6101 : Men may calle þat day…Þe day of wreke and of vengeaunce.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3030 : Wykked tonge, god yeue hym sorwe…On many a iust man doth he wreke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)533 : Wreke [Win: Wrek], idem quod wrake supra.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3839 : Iche a wy may be warre be wreke of anoþer.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)26/8 : The es better amend þe of thi mysededis, þan we take…wreke appon the.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)383/191 : He schuld…on youre werkis take wreke.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.61 : God…on the puple tho took ful grete wreke.
- a1500 Ihesu mercy mercy (Trin-C B.10.12)66 : For syn þou take no wreke on me.
b
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)429 : I sal dy with wreke At þe first word þat I speke.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1582 : God made al thing…In nombre…which nombres if ye do change and breke, vpon nature ye muste do wreke.