† ˈwrethful, a. Obs.
[Early ME. wrēðful, f. wrēðe wrethe n. + -ful. Cf. wrathful a., wrothful a.]
1. Of persons: Angry, irate; = wrathful a. 1.
| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 43 Heo wes..liȝere and swikel, and wreðful and ontful. a 1225 Ancr. R. 118 Pellican is a leane fowel, so weamod & so wreðful þet [etc.]. c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 5107 Ihesu Crist, Þat til þam swa wrethful sal seme þan. 1387 Trevisa Higden IV. 297 For he was..wreþful, and priveliche envious and opounliche disceyvable. 1422 Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. 233 He that hath a sharpe noose and smale, he is wrethfull. |
| absol. a 1225 Ancr. R. 212 Þe wreðfule biuoren þe ueonde skirmeð mid kniues. 1340 Ayenb. 30 Þe þridde werre þet þe wreþuolle heþ is to þan þet byeþ onder him. |
2. Marked or characterized by wrath.
| c 1325 Metr. Hom. 141 The bischop sau that Godd wald tak Of this man sin wrethful wrac. 1513 Douglas æneid xi. viii. 163 Quhidder this turn to Goddis wrethfull wraik, Or hardyment and honour. |
Hence
† ˈwrethfully adv.;
ˈwrethfulness.
Obs.| c 1400 Apol. Loll. 58 Þe hound of wrethfulnes [text wrechfulnes; L. iracundiæ] grenniþ wiþ his teþ. c 1475 Partenay 2218 Then thes paynymes wrethfully ther-thens Whent. |