▪ I. wrath, n.
(rɔːθ, rɒθ, U.S. rɑːθ)
Forms: α. 1 wræððu, -o, 3 wræððe, 2 wredða, 3 wredðe (wreadðe), 2–3 wreððe, 3–4 wreþþe, 4–5 wretthe. β. 1 wraððo, 3 wraððe (wraððhe), wraðþe, 3 Orm., 4–5 wraþþe, 4–5 wratthe. γ. 3 wraðe, 4–5 wraþe, 4–6 wrathe; 3 wrað, 4– wrath (4 wragh, 5 wraaþ, wraugth, 7 wrauth). δ. Sc. 5–7 wraith, 6 -the, 6 vraith, vr-, wrayth (wrayith).
[OE. wrǽððu, -o, = wrǽþþu, f. wráþ wroth a. + -þu:—Teut. -iþō: see -th1. Cf. wrethe n.
The original long vowel (ǣ) was shortened before the double consonant, and gave the two ME. types wreþþe and wraþþe. From the latter comes the mod. wrath, with later lengthening of the a, as in path, lath. The pronunc. (rɑːθ), regarded by Walker (1791) as ‘more analogical’, and formerly common in Eng. use but now displaced by that with the rounded vowel (rɔːθ), and later by (rɒθ), is still given as the standard by American dictionaries.]
1. Vehement or violent anger; intense exasperation or resentment; deep indignation: a. In the phrases for wrath, † o wrath, † on wrath, of wrath, with wrath († mid wrath), or esp. in wrath.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark iii. 5 [Jesus] ymb-sceawde hia mið wræððo..cueð to ðæm menn, aðen hond ðin. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 113 Þe lauerd [scal] do hit for rihtwisnesse..and noht for wreððe. a 1200 Vices & Virtues 121 Ne he ðe ðurhwuneð on wraðþe, ne he ðe wuneliche lið on hordome. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1361 Þe Keiser kaste his heaued, as wod mon, of wraððe. Ibid. 2048 Hu wrakeliche, wenestu, wule he, al o wraððe, wreken on þe, wrecche! 13.. Guy Warw. (C.) 3326 It is Guy, That in wrath from the woll departi truly. 1382 Wyclif Mark iii. 5 He biholdynge hem aboute with wrathe..seith [etc.]. c 1400 Destr. Troy 6697 Then for wrath of his wound..He gird to a greke. c 1450 Myrr. our Ladye ii. 79 Some vse when they here the fende named in play or in wrathe to saye Aue Maria. 1586 Marlowe 1st Pt. Tamburl. ii. ii, My heart is swolne with wrath, on this..villaine Tamburlaine and of that false Cosroe. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. xii. 86 Yet being men they..stared ghastly,..some for wrath, to see their captiue Dame. 1663 Dryden Wild Gallant ii. (1669) 24 Come not near me to night, while I'm in wrath. c 1743 Sir C. H. Williams Wks. (1822) I. 203 Great Earl of Bath, Be not in wrath, At what the people say. 1798 Wordsw. Peter Bell 348 On he drives with cheeks that burn In downright fury and in wrath. 1882 ‘Ouida’ Maremma I. 243 But we may go in wrath. |
b. In general use.
Occas. personif.| c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 105 Wreððe hafð wununge on þes dusian bosme. a 1200 Vices & Virtues 41 All ðare hwile ðe ðu wraððe oðer nið hauest mid te. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3863 Ðer ros wreððe and strif a-non Aȝen moysen and aaron. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 6 He ne suffred neuere wrath to be aboue. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. vi. 98 Beo wel i-war of wraþþe Þat wykkide Schrewe. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 3872 Wratthe, þe body of man inward fretith. c 1425 Cast. Persev. 210 in Macro Plays 83 Wretthe, þis wrecche, with me schal wawe. c 1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 214 Ageyn hym wrathe if thou accende The same in happ wylle falle on the. 1526 Tindale Ephes. iv. 31 Let all bitternes, fearsnes and wrath..be put awaye from you. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. iv. 35 Such one was Wrath, the last of this vngodly tire. 1640 G. Sandys Christ's Passion ii. 201 Wrath, the Nurse of War. 1691 Hartcliffe Virtues 125 Upon every triffle they shall be provoked to Wrath. 1781 Cowper Expost. 132 He judg'd them with as terrible a frown As if not love, but wrath, had brought him down. 1839 J. H. Newman Par. Serm. IV. ii. 40 Wrath was abroad and in his path. 1848 Dickens Dombey xlvi, Mrs. Brown's daughter looked out..; and there were wrath and vengeance in her face. 1885 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. I. 143 He was now full of wrath and resentment against them. |
| transf. 1827 Pollok Course T. v. 595 He..heard the weltering of the waves of wrath. 1848 O. W. Holmes Battle of Lexington iii, Fast on the soldier's path Darken the waves of wrath. |
c. With qualification (
adj. or
poss. pron.).
| α c 900 Rituale Eccl. Dunelm. (Surtees) 12 ælc bitternesse & irra & wræððo..sie ᵹ invmmen from ivh. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 67 For-ȝif þi wreððe and þi mod, for þenne is þi bode god. c 1205 Lay. 1441 Corineus..seide þas ilke word mid muchelere wredðe. 1387 Trevisa Higden IV. 163 Þe way was y-opened forto take wreche of al olde wreþþe. a 1400 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) II. 857 Þis spousing was enchesen of gret hate & wreþþe. c 1440 York Myst. xxvi. 154 Of my wretthe wreke me I will. |
| β a 1200 St. Marher. 18 Þa warð þe reue woð and beð..o great wraððe bringen forð a uet. c 1205 Lay. 6379 Ah hit wes muchel hærme..þat þurh his wraððe his wit wes awemmed. a 1250 Owl & Night. 941 Þe wraþþe binymeþ monnes red. c 1350 Will. Palerne 728 Ȝif þemperour were wiþ me wroþ his wraþþe forto slake. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 154 The king..Was..so wel paid That al his wraththe is overgo. c 1425 Cursor M. 5085 (Trin.), Mi wraþþe is clene fro me goon. |
| γ c 1300 Havelok 2719 Do nu wel with-uten fiht, Yeld hire þe lond... Wile ich forgiue þe þe lathe, Al mi dede and al mi wrathe. c 1374 Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 51 Mars which..The old wrath of Juno to fulfille Hath sette the peoplis hertis..on fyre Of Thebes [etc.]. c 1440 Generydes 1373 Yet in his wraugth this thought he euer among, If he shuld avenge hym sodenly [etc.]. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop ii. vii, His mayster..by grete wrathe beganne to bete gym. 1526 Tindale Ephes. iv. 26 Lett nott the sonne goo doune apon youre wrathe. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, ii. i. 106 Who sued to me for him? Who (in my wrath)..bid me be aduis'd? 1616 T. Scot Philomythie ii. C 3, Ech roreth out his wrath, Nor other need of drums or trumpets hath. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 651 The Seer..could not yet his Wrath asswage. 1735 Pope Prol. Sat. 30 Which must end me, a Fool's wrath or love? 1796 F. Burney Camilla I. 339 When he had respectfully suffered her wrath to vent itself, he made apologies. 1862 Thackeray Philip xxvii, His chafing, bleeding temper is one raw; his whole soule one rage, and wrath, and fever. 1871 B. Taylor Faust (1875) I. xxv. 209 The evil one with terrible wrath Seeketh a path His prey to discover. |
| δ c 1480 Henryson Fox, Wolf, & Cadger 7 In his wraith he werryit thame to deid. c 1520 M. Nisbet N. Test. (S.T.S.) II. 238 marg., As for malice or vnlawful wraith, it is vtirly forbiddin. c 1614 Sir W. Mure Dido & æneas i. 296 His hoarie head he reares Above the waters, toss'd by Juno's wraith. |
d. Righteous indignation on the part of the Deity.
| c 900 Rituale Eccl. Dunelm. (Surtees) 8 God,..beado folces ðines biddendes rvmmodlice biseh, & sv'oppa ðines vraððo..ymbwoend. a 1200 Vices & Virtues 21 Fondie we te kelien godes wraððe mid teares. a 1300 E.E. Psalter xciv. 11 (E.), Als in mi wrath swore I best, If þai sal in-ga in mi rest. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 780 He takyþ more to wraþþe þat synne þan [etc.]. 1382 Wyclif Ezek. xxxviii. 19 Saith the Lord God, myn indignacioun shal styre vp..in my wrath. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour 13 Forto apese the wrathe of God..thei..fasted. 1535 Coverdale Hosea xiii. 11, I gaue the a kinge in my wrath. 1562 Winȝet Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 30 For the abusing of thir dayis..God is at wrayith with vs. 1634 Milton Comus 803 As when the wrath of Jove Speaks thunder. 1667 ― P.L. iii. 406 To appease thy wrauth..[thy Son] offerd himself to die For mans offence. 1827 Pollok Course T. x. 556 The native fires, which God awoke, And kindled with the fury of His wrath. 1853 T. Parker Theism, Atheism, etc. p. li, To appease the wrath of God, or purchase his favour. |
e. transf. Violence or extreme force of a natural agency, regarded as hostile to mankind or growth.
| 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Jan. 19 Thou barrein ground, whome winters wrath hath wasted. 1608 The Great Frost in Arber Garner (1895) I. 86 [This] may teach them..in summer to make a provision against the wrath of winter. 1648 J. Beaumont Psyche ii. xvi, Stern bristles hedg'd up high His back, which did all wrath of thorns defie. 1810 Scott Lady of L. iv. xxi, A wasted female form, Blighted by wrath of sun and storm. 1813 ― Rokeby vi. xxi, Mine be the eve of tropic sun!.. No twilight dews his wrath allay. 1833 Wordsw. ‘If Life were slumber’ 34 She knelt in prayer—the waves their wrath appease. 1876 Swinburne Erechtheus 588 All her flower of body..With the might of the wind's wrath wrenched. |
2. An instance of deep or violent anger; a fit or spell of ire or fierce indignation.
| a 1200 Vices & Virtues 41 Ðe dieule..ararð upp ðe wraððhes and þe cheastes and te bitere wordes. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 294 Bituex þe kyng of France & þe erle..Was þat tyme a distance, a wrath bituex þam nam. c 1375 Cursor M. 27671 (Fairf.), To deme a man til ille for a wraþ he has him tille. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 2310 In a wrath, þe wale kyng swyth Him of his principalete priued. 1474 Caxton Chesse ii. v. (1883) 68 Hit is better to leue a gylty man vnpunysshyd than to punyshe hym in a wrath or yre. 1535 Coverdale 2 Cor. xii. 20 Lest there be amonge you, debates, envyenges, wrathes, stryuynges. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. vi. 8 So both to wreake their wrathes on Britomart agreed. 1610 Shakes. Temp. iii. iii. 79 Lingring perdition..shall step by step attend You, and your wayes, whose wraths to guard you from [etc.]. 1855 M. Arnold Balder Dead iii. 79 For haughty spirits and high wraths are rife Among the Gods. 1864 Tennyson Aylmer's F. 706 When some heat of difference sparkled out, How sweetly would she glide between your wraths. |
† 3. a. Impetuous ardour, rage, or fury.
Obs.| c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon iii. 78 [They] go vpon the oost..by soo grete wrathe that it was merueyll. 1539 Bible (Great) 2 Macc. iv. 25 Bearynge the stomack of a cruel tyraunt, & y⊇ wrath of a wylde brute beest. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. i. 109 Henrie Monmouth, whose swift wrath beate downe The neuer-daunted Percie to the earth. 1601 ― Twel. N. iii. iv. 257 Your opposite hath in him what youth, strength, skill, and wrath, can furnish man withall. |
† b. The ardour
of passion, love, etc.
Obs.—1| 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. v. ii. 44 They are in the verie wrath of loue, and they will together. |
4. Anger displayed in action; the manifestation of anger or fury,
esp. by way of retributory punishment; vengeance:
a. Of the Deity, etc. Freq. in
wrath of God,
day of wrath; also
fig. in
phr. like the wrath of God, dreadful, terrible; dreadfully, terribly.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Luke xxi. 23 Bið forðon ofer-suiðnisso micelo on-ufa eorðo & wræððo folce ðissum. 1050–72 in Leofric Missal (1883) 1/1 Hæbbe he godes curs and wræð e ealra halᵹena. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 27 He..biddeð þat godes wraððe cume uppen his oȝen heued. 1382 Wyclif 1 Thess. i. 10 Jhesu, that delyuerede vs fro wraththe to comynge. c 1375 Cursor M. 27362 (Fairf.), Þe day of wraþ & wrake & sorou. c 1440 Jacob's Well 107 Sodeynly þanne þe wretthe & þe wreche of god schal fallyn on þe. 1482 Monk of Evesham (Arb.) 61 The whyche..tresur to hem fro daye to daye the wrathe of owre sauyur ihesu cryste in the daye of hys wrathe. 1535 Coverdale Ecclus. vii. 16 Remembre that the wrath shall not be longe in tarienge. 1583 W. Hunnis Ps. vi. 11 If into heauen I might ascend,..O Lord, thy wrath would thrust me forth downe to the earthe againe. 1624 Quarles Job ix. 46 The smoothest pleader hath No power in his lips, to slake his [sc. God's] Wrath. 1682 Peden Lord's Trumpet (1739) 13 When Wrath is so near, I pray You to take notice what Ye are doing, for..[soon] Ye shall..be overthrown with the Wrath of God. 1758 S. Hayward Serm. i. 7 Sin brings us under the wrath and curse of God. 1793 R. Gray Poems 133 To redeem [him] from wrath, His Saviour once did bleed and die. 1820 Shelley Fragm., Satire upon Satire 14 Then send the priests..To preach the burning wrath which is to come. 1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. v. 107, I have dedicated myself to..the god of wrath and vengeance. 1936 J. Buchan Island of Sheep xii. 224 The winds..in the Norlands can blow like the wrath of God. 1955 M. Allingham Beckoning Lady xiii. 178 Fancy coming home like the wrath of God and starting a fight. 1967 ‘R. Foley’ Fear of Stranger (1968) v. 56 You look like the wrath of God, Kay... No flesh on you to speak of. 1982 ‘W. R. Duncan’ Queen's Messenger ii. 19 Are you ill? You look like the wrath of God. |
b. Of persons.
| a 1500 Songs & Carols (Warton Cl.) 98 The chylderyng ȝyng, With Herowdes wretthe to deth were wrong. 1533 Bellenden Livy iv. (S.T.S.) II. 94 The wraith and Ire of romanis aganis þe veanis war defferrit to þe nixt ȝere. 1602 Chettle Hoffman iii. (1631) F 3, The Dukes squadrons arm'd with wrath and death, Watch but the signall when to ceaze on you. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 14 The wrauth Of stern Achilles on his Foe. 1781 Cowper Table-T. 597 Man lavish'd all his thoughts on human things—The feats of heroes, and the wrath of kings. 1805 Wordsw. Prelude x. 26 Avengers, from whose wrath they fled In terror. 1836 J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. (1852) 339 Legal wrath is nothing else than the just award of crime. 1868 Heavysege Jezebel i. 130 My red wrath shall fall like yon bright bolt. |
5. An act done in anger or indignation.
| c 1440 Jacob's Well 42 Ȝif ȝe wyl fle fro þe iiij wrettys [sic] of god. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. ccvi. [ccii.] 633 To make amendes for all wrathes, forfaytes, and dommages that euer they dyde to hym. 1611 Bible Zech. vii. 12 There⁓fore came a great wrath from the Lord of hostes. a 1754 E. Erskine Serm. (1755) 200 No Man can read his Bible..but he must hear of a wrath to come from God upon Impenitent Sinners. |
6. attrib. and
Comb., as
wrath-bearing,
wrath-fire,
wrath-storm; objective, as
wrath-provoking,
† wrath-venger; similative, as
wrath-faced,
wrath-like; instrumental, as
wrath-bewildered,
wrath-consume v.,
wrath-kindled,
wrath-swollen.
| a 1593 Marlowe Ovid's Elegies ii. v. 52 She..kissed so sweetely as might make Wrath-kindled Ioue away his thunder shake. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. i. 152 Wrath-kindled Gentlemen be rul'd by me. 1600 Rowlands Lett. Humours Blood iv. D 8 b, [To] Threaten to drawe his wrath-venger, his sworde. 1644 Vicars God in Mount 42 The guilt of such a wrath-provoking sin. 1656 Sparrow tr. Boehme's Aurora xix. 434 When thou fightest against him, thou stirrest up his wrath-fire. 1718 Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 356 The extraordinary stirrings of the Jacobites, and their elevation, especially since our wrath-like divisions at Court. 1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad iii. 66 They fly dispers'd, nor tempt..His wrath-swoln neck and eyes of living fire. 1798 W. Sotheby tr. Wieland's Oberon (1826) I. 27 His sov'reign's wrath-bewilder'd brain. 1859 FitzGerald Omar K. lvi, Whether the one True Light Kindle to Love, or Wrathconsume me quite. 1886 J. Pulsford Infoldings v. 63 The wrath-storm which our sins have created. 1892 G. Meredith Poems 81 It surges like the wrath-faced father Sea To countering winds. 1920 T. S. Eliot Ara Vos Prec 12 These tears are shaken from the wrath-bearing tree. |
Hence
† ˈwrathhead, wrath; deep anger.
Obs.—1| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 12460 God..Oþer forȝyueþ..alle with gladehede, Or alle abydeþ to hys wraþhede. |
▪ II. wrath ME. var. wroth a.
▪ III. wrath, a. (
rɔːθ)
[var. of wroth a., prob. by association with wrath n.] Wroth, angry, irate; deeply resentful.
Somewhat rare; but occuring in various passages of the Douay Bible (1609) where earlier versions and the Authorized have
wroth.
| 1535 Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. xviii. xii. 316/2 No creature is..more feruente to take wreche than is the bee whan he is wrathe. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. ii. i. 20 Oberon is passing fell and wrath [rime hath]. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. viii. 43 Whereat the Prince full wrath, his strong right hand..heaued vp on hie. 1609 Bible (Douay) Gen. xl. 2 Pharao being wrath against them..sent them into the prison. 1629 Milton Hymn Nativ. xviii, Th'old Dragon under ground..wrath to see his Kingdom fail. [1847 Madden Laȝamon I. 271 When he was wrath with any man.] 1860 Thackeray Lovel iv, Lovel, seldom angry, was violently wrath with his brother-in-law. 1862 Lytton Strange Story II. 229, I saw the child..looking towards us, and..she seemed near. I felt wrath with her. |
▪ IV. † wrath, v. Obs. Forms: α. 3
wreððen,
wreþþen, 4
wreþþe,
wretþe, 4–5
wretthe. β. 3
wraððen (
wraðhin), 3–4
wraþþen (3
Orm. -enn), 4–5
wraþþe, 5
wraþþi,
wrathþe; 3
wratþen, 4–5
wratthen,
wratthe. γ. 3
wraðen,
wraþen (
wrahþen), 4
wrathen, 4–5
wraþe,
wrathe,
wraþ (4
wragh), 4–6,
arch. 9
wrath. δ. 5,
Sc. 6
wraith.
[Early ME. wreþþen, wraþþen, f. the n. (see wrath n.), taking the place of the earlier wrēðen wrethe v. Cf. awrath, iwrathe, and wroth vbs.] 1. intr. To be or become angry, wrathful, or wroth; to feel, manifest, or exhibit anger; to rage.
| c 1205 Lay. 1450 Þa iwredðede [v.r. iwreððede] Numbert. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 746 Þe king bigon to wreððen [Cott. MS. wraððen]. a 1300 E.E. Psalter cxi. 10 Sinful sal se, and wrath he sal. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 230 Ȝet wrathed not þe wyȝ, ne þe wrech saȝtled. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 189 Yf he wratthe, we mowe be war. 14.. Sir Beues (C.) 632 He wrathed sore yn is hertte. c 1450 Merlin i. 3 Whan the gode man herde this he gan to wratthe. |
| transf. c 1275 Lay. 4577 Þe wind com on wiþere, And þe see wreþþede. Ibid. 12006 Þe see was wonderliche wod; and þe see wraþþede. |
b. Const.
against,
at,
in,
with (a person or thing).
| 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 111 Whan wrathed Steuen with Dauid of Scotland. c 1400 Destr. Troy 8442 The worthy at his wife wrathet a litle. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 20 A gentille knightes doughter that wratthed atte the tables with a gentille man. |
| transf. a 1300 E.E. Psalter cxxiii. 3 When wrathed [Harl. wraghed] breth of þa in us þus. 1382 Wyclif Ps. cxxiii. 3 Whan shulde wrathen the wodnesse of hem in to vs. |
c. Of the Deity: To be or grow righteously angry or wroth (
against or
with a person or thing).
| a 1300 E.E. Psalter vii. 12 (H.), God demer rith,..Nou wrathes be alle daies in land? 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. ix. 128 Caymes kynde & his kynde coupled togideres, Tyl god wratthed for her werkis. 1382 Wyclif Lam. v. 22 Lord,..thou wrathedist aȝen vs hugely. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 77 And God wratthed therwith, and bade Moyses [etc.]. |
2. trans. To make (a person, etc.) irate, angry, or wroth; to move to wrath, ire, or deep resentment; to anger, enrage; to annoy, vex.
In very frequent use from
c 1350 to
c 1450.
| α c 1205 Lay. 3771 Heo werðede [c 1275 Hii wreþþede] heore moddri mare þene heo sulden. a 1225 Ancr. R. 426 On alle wise uorberen to wreððen hore dame. a 1250 Prov. ælfred (A.) 276 And þu hi myd worde iwreþþed heuedest. 1340 Ayenb. 8 Þet we ous loky þet we ne wreþþi uader ne moder wytindeliche. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 4045 Þenk eftsones to auenged be of þe Amyral þat haþ y-wreþþed þe. a 1450 Northern Passion (D) 727 Petir stod wretthid ful sore. |
| β a 1200 Vices & Virtues 99 Se ðe hafð ðese eadi mihte, him ne mai no mann wraðhin. c 1205 Lay. 7200 Þe feond wes iwraððed. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7721 Ȝif þat eni him [= William] wraþþede, adoun he was anon. 13.. K. Alis. 3369 (Laud MS.), Ne shaltou wraþþe þi lorde gent. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 8584 Of þese dedly synnes seuene, Þat we wraþþe with God of heuene. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. ii. 85 Serwe on þi lokkes, Such weddyng to worche to wraþþe with truþe. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. xii. (Bodl. MS.), Þe bee whan he is ywraþþed. a 1450 Myrc Par. Pr. 1142 Hast þou..Wrathþed þy neȝbore in any þynge? 1480 Caxton Cron. Eng. ccxxx. 244 The kyng was gretely meuid and wratthed. |
| transf. c 1205 Lay. 12006 Þe sæ wes wunder ane wod, and ladliche iwraððed. |
| absol. 13.. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903) 260 Lechery..wasteþ.., hit wraþþeþ, hit bigileþ. |
| γ a 1275 Prov. ælfred (B.) 276 If..þu hire mid worde wraþed hauedest. a 1300 Cursor M. 16427 Pilate forthoght þaim bath to wrath. c 1350 Will. Palerne 981, I wraþed him neuer..in word ne in dede. c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 1151 Ne I wolde haue wrathed her truly. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 29 But yn a myshappe..þay wraþeden hor modyr. 1486 Bk. St. Albans f v b, Wrath not thy neighborys next the. [1866 Morris Ayenb. 8 marg., Wrath not thy Father or Mother.] |
| transf. c 1205 Lay. 4577 Þe wind com on weðere, and þa sæ he wraðede [c 1275 þe see wreþþede]. |
| δ c 1400 Brut. ii. 310 Wherfore þe King was gretly..wraithed. c 1480 Henryson Fables, Wolf & Lamb 43 He wraithit me, and than I culd him warne Within ane ȝeir. |
b. Predicated of things. Somewhat
rare.
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 238 Ne nis na þing hwerþurh monnes muchele madschipe wreððeð [Cott. MS. wraððeð] him wið mare [etc.]. c 1230 Hali Meid. 27 Moni þing schal ham wraððen & gremen. 1472 Paston Lett. III. 57 Sir Jamys is evyr choppyng at me..with syche wordys as he thynkys wrathe me. |
c. To provoke or incite (the Deity) to righteous anger or wrath; to move to displeasure. Also
const. to,
with.
In frequent use from
c 1325 to
c 1425.
| c 1200 Ormin 5615 Þu Ne darrst nohht Drihhtin wraþþenn. a 1225 Ancr. R. 138 Monnes soule..geð ut of hire heie heouenliche cunde, & forte paien hire, wreððet hire schuppare. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8813 Þo þou..wraþþedest so muche god. c 1330 Amis & Amil. 606 Al our ioie..We schuld lese, and, for that sinne, Wretthi God therto. c 1375 Cursor M. 1227 (Fairf.), Vn-sely cayme..and alle his osspringe..wraþet him wiþ wikked rede. c 1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 16 Ihesu, for them y þe biseche Þat wraþþen þee in ony wise. a 1450 Myrc Par. Pr. 978 Hast þou.. I-wrathþad þy god greuowsly? 1485 Caxton St. Wenefr. 3 Thou hast gretely wratthed oure lorde. |
3. refl. To wax, become, or grow angry.
| c 1205 Lay. 20345 Arður..þis gomen isæh and wraðde hine sulfne. a 1225 Juliana 10 (Royal MS.), Þa þe reue iherde þis, he wreððede him swiðe. c 1290 Beket 972 Þo þe king i-saiȝ him so come he wrathþede him a-non. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 661 Fader, no wretþe þe nouȝt. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 176 Whi þou wraþþest þe now, wonder me þinkeþ. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 4125 Hurre brother wratthede hym þo at þe last. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xxxvii. 644 Anon to wraththen sche gan hire there. [1822 Scott Peveril xxii, ‘Nay, wrath thee not, Will,’ said Ganlesse.] |
4. trans. To be or become angry with (a person); to treat with anger, ire, or deep resentment.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 174 Ne I nyl forbere, yf þat ye don a-mys, To wrathen [Harl. MS. wreth] yow, and whil þat ye me serue, Cherycen yow right after ye deserue. 1375 Cantic. de Creatione 288 Ȝut bad me Michel with word od Worschipen þe, or elles god Wolde wrathen me. c 1430 in Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903) 191/11 Whi wraþþist þou me? y greue þee nouȝt. 1567 Turberv. Ovid's Ep. 73 b, A cruell stepdame will my children wrath [L. saeviet in partus meos]. |
5. To afflict, harm, or injure; to bring to grief or disaster.
| 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 1529 Gwichard, who haþ wretþed þe, & where hastow in bateyle be? 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 726 For werre wrathed hym not so much, þat wynter was wors. Ibid. 2420 Adam,..Salamon..and Samson..were wrathed wyth her [sc. woman's] wyles. 14.. Guy Warw. 1123 (Camb. MS.) 3252 Or they be passyd the hyllys hye, We schall þem wrath. |
Hence
† ˈwrather, one who excites, or moves to, wrath;
† ˈwrathing vbl. n. Obs.| 1382 Wyclif Ezek. ii. 7 Therfor thou shalt speke my wordis to hem,..for thei ben *wraththers. |
| c 1370 Stacions of Rome 107 (Vernon MS.), *Wraþþing of Fader or Moder ȝif hit be In godes nome he forȝiueþ þe. c 1400 Cato's Morales 296 in Cursor M. 1673 For nane alde wraþþing hate noȝt þi frende if he chaunge his manere. c 1440 Jacob's Well 241 Princepally for dreed of god, for dreed of his wretthyng. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 24 For drede of sclaunder and wratthinge of her. |
▪ V. wrath obs. erron. f. rathe adv.| c 1400 Arth. & Merl. 2145 (Linc. Inn MS.), King Anguis..Did arme his men wrath & prest. |