Obs. Forms: 3 wracken, 4–5 wrak, 6 wracke. [Irreg. var. of WREAK]. Cf. brack, brak, for BREAK v.]

1

  1.  trans. To avenge or revenge (a person, deed, etc.); to punish. Also const. on.

2

c. 1205.  Lay., 20256. Baldulf … þencheð in þissere nihte to slæn þe … to wracken his broðer.

3

a. 1300.  Body & Soul, in Map’s Poems (Camden), 338. Merci criende lutel availede, ȝwan Crist it wolde so harde wrac.

4

[1871.  Waddell, Psalm xviii. 47. The God wha wracks a’ right for me.]

5

  2.  To give vent to or wreak (spite, malice, etc.).

6

1635.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 199. The King went to wrack his spite on their corpes.

7

1644.  J. Fary, Gods Severity (1645), 21. You … must needs wrack your malice by revenge.

8

1720.  Prior, Cupid Mistaken, iii. Couldst thou find none other, To wrack [ed. 1709 wreck] thy spleen on?

9