wreak
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wreak¹
- /ɹiːk/ UK
- /ɹik/ US
Sounds like reek · Rhymes with -iːk
Where it comes from
From Middle English wreken, from Old English wrecan, from Proto-West Germanic *wrekan, from Proto-Germanic *wrekaną, from Proto-Indo-European *wreg- (“push, shove, drive, track down”). Cognate via Proto-Germanic with Dutch wreken, German rächen, Swedish vräka; cognate via PIE with Latin urgēre (English urge), and distantly cognate with English wreck.
verb wreaks · wreaking · wreaked · wrought · wroke
- To cause harm; to afflict; to inflict; to harm or injure; to let out harm. The earthquake wreaked havoc in the city.
- To chasten, or chastise/chastize, or castigate, or punish, or smite. The police abused their authority to wreak an innocent.
- To inflict or take vengeance on. their woe / Broods maddening inwardly and scorns to wreak / Itself abroad;
- To take vengeance for. Come wreak his loss, whom bootless ye complain.
- Misspelling of reek.reek She wreaked of liquor. She also wreaked of anger, despair and unsatisfied sexuality, all mixed together.
wreak²
- /ɹiːk/ UK
- /ɹik/ US
Sounds like reek · Rhymes with -iːk
Where it comes from
From Middle English wreke, wrake, Northern Middle English variants of wreche, influenced later by Etymology 1, above. Compare Dutch wraak.
noun wreaks
- Revenge; vengeance; furious passion; resentment. VVhat barbarous mindes for grieuance more than needs, Vnnaturallie ſeeks wreake vpon their Lord, Their true annointed Prince, their lawfull king:
- Punishment; retribution; payback. Of a surety none murdered the damsel but I; take her wreak on me this moment; for, an thou do not thus, I will require it of thee before Almighty Allah.
