WREAK • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Wreak

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verb

Wreak v. t. (past & past part. wreaked; pres. part. wreaking)

To revenge; to avenge. (Archaic) "He should wreake him on his foes." "Another's wrongs to wreak upon thyself." "Come wreak his loss, whom bootless ye complain."

To inflict or execute, especially in vengeance or passion; to hurl or drive; as, to wreak vengeance on an enemy; to wreak havoc. Note: The word wrought is sometimes assumed to be the past tense of wreak, as the phrases wreak havoc and wrought havoc are both commonly used. In fact, wrought havoc is not as common as wreaked havoc. Whether wrought is considered as the past tense of wreak or of work, wrought havoc has essentially the same meaning. Etymologically, however, wrought is only the past tense of work. "On me let Death wreak all his rage." "Now was the time to be avenged on his old enemy, to wreak a grudge of seventeen years." "But gather all thy powers, And wreak them on the verse that thou dost weave."

Wreak v. i. To reck; to care. (Obs.)

noun

Wreak n. Revenge; vengeance; furious passion; resentment. (Obs.)

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Etymology of 'Wreak'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Wreak" Quotes from Famous Books

... often shed, are all nothing but shameful deeds. The foreigner we have so thoroughly conquered triumphs and overwhelms us with his contempt; an incapable race, an overbearing and unnatural following, reappear triumphant, throw up our crime to us, wreak their vengeance, and govern us like helots by the hand of a stranger. Thus the defeat of the Convention would crown the brow of the foreigner, and seal the disgrace and slavery of our native land." Such thoughts, his youth, ...

— The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte - Vol. I. (of IV.) • William Milligan Sloane

... he could see, the diamonds belonged to his cousin;—in answer to which Mr. Camperdown suggested that the question was one for the decision of the Vice-Chancellor. Frank Greystock found that he could do nothing with Mr. Camperdown, and felt that he could wreak his vengeance ...

— The Eustace Diamonds • Anthony Trollope

... chanced to see this letter. It roused his jealousy fearfully. A sense of "honor" would allow him to lavish his attentions upon guilty favorites, while that same sense of "honor" would urge him to wreak vengeance upon his unhappy, injured wife, because, in her neglect and anguish, with no false, but only a true affection, her memory turned to the loved companion of her childhood. According to the standard of the fashionable world, Beauharnais was a very honorable ...

— Hortense, Makers of History Series • John S. C. Abbott

... majestic eyes) Succour like this a mortal arm might lend, And such success mere human wit attend: And shall not I, the second power above, Heaven's queen, and consort of the thundering Jove, Say, shall not I one nation's fate command, Not wreak my vengeance on ...

— The Iliad of Homer • Homer

... "you have given full proof of that; but never, while I live, shall you have another opportunity to wreak your hellish rage ...

— Holidays at Roselands • Martha Finley

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