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 sb.
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. This pronunc. (rāþ), regarded by Walker (1791), as ‘more analogical,’ and formerly common in Eng. use but now displaced by that with the rounded vowel (rǭþ), 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, † o, † on, of, with († mid), or esp. in wrath.
a. 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 ʓinvmmen 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 ant 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 hym.
1526. Tindale, Ephes. iv. 26. Lett nott the sonne goo doune apon youre wrathe.
1594. Shaks., 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. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, I. 339. When he had respectfully suffered her wrath to vent itself, he made apologies.
1863. Thackeray, Philip, xxvii. His chafing, bleeding temper is one raw; his whole soul 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 stye 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. Ibid. (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 Lake, IV. xxi. A wasted female form, Blighted by wrath of sun and storm. Ibid. (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 dð wraððhes and þe cheastes and te bitere wordes.
1338. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 294. Biluex 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. Shaks., 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. Impetuous ardor, 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, & ye wrath of a wylde brute beest.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. i. 109. Henrie Monmouth, whose swift wrath beate downe The neuer-daunted Percie to the earth. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., III. iv. 257. Your opposite hath in him what youth, strength, skill, and wrath, can furnish man withall.
† b. The ardor of passion, love, etc. Obs.–1
1600. Shaks., 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.
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 wræððe ealra halʓena.
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. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. v. 107. I have dedicated myself to … the god of wrath and vengeance.
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. Therefore 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-fire, -storm; objetive, as wrath-provoking, † -venger; similative, as wrath-faced, -like; instrumental, as wrath-bewildered, -consume v., -kindled, -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. Shaks., 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, trans. 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. Sotheby, trans. 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.
1893. G. Meredith, Poems, 81. It surges like the wrath-faced father Sea To countering winds.
Hence † Wrathhead, wrath; deep anger. Obs.–1
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 12460. God … Oþer forȝyueþ … alle with gladehede, Or alle abydeþ to hys wraþhede.
