Obs. Also 6–7 wrecke, 6–7, 9 reck, 7 recke. [Late variant of WREAK v.; the exact reason for the shortening of the vowel is not clear, but cf. dial. breck for BREAK v.]
1. trans. = WREAK v. 5, 5 b. Chiefly refl.
1570. Levins, Manip., 54. To Wreck, vindicare.
1583. Babington, Commandm. (1590), 331. Any larger commission granted to vs to wreck our selues vpon our brethren.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus i. 10. The minde and intention of the Apostle here … was not … to wrecke himselfe vpon them.
1622. P. Hannay, Philomela, lxxxiv. The world shall know I was not slow To wreck a wronged maid.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., VI. Wks. 1851, V. 242. They wreck’d themselves on the Countries round about, wasting … all Essex, Kent, and Sussex.
2. = WREAK v. 3.
1658. Whole Duty Man, xv. § 31. It is a kind desire of his amendment (and not a willingness to wreck his own rage) which [etc.].
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 11. Being ready at once to asswage his Concupiscence, and wreck his Malice.
1681. Character Ill-Court-Favourite, 5. These Insufferable Grandees, who reck their Private Spleens.
b. With preps., as on, upon, against (a person, etc.); = WREAK v. 3 b. Also with out.
1577. Grange, Golden Aphrod., etc. Q ij b. She sought on me to wrecke hir spight.
1583. Greene, Mamillia, II. Wks. (Grosart), II. 151. With what greater plague … can … the vniust gods … wreck their wrath and extreme rigour vppon any man.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 25. That malice … which he could not there so easily wrecke on their Creator.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xxvi. To wreck his spleen, or ease his mind upon the Parlament.
1702. Rowe, Tamerl., IV. i. Give him Pow’r to wreck his Hatred Upon his greatest Foe?
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 439, ¶ 3. [They] often wreck their particular Spite or Malice against the person whom they are set to watch.
1777. Watson, Philip II., I. 191. The king … was determined to wreck his resentment on all concerned.
1793. R. Gray, Poems, 25. Some in the fray wreckt out his spleen On some sly pate or sawney.
3. = WREAK v. 6, 7.
1593. Marlowe, Edw. II., IV. iv. For the open wronges and iniuries Edward hath done to vs,… We come in armes to wrecke it with the swords.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. iv. 24. He Talus sent To wrecke on them their follies hardyment.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 11. Satan … came down … To wreck on innocent frail man his loss Of that first Battel.
4. = WREAK v. 8.
1764. Goldsm., Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1772), II. 231. There was no object on whom to wreck their vengeance.
a. 1790. Henry, Britain (1793), VI. 419. They not only wrecked their vengeance on the living, but on the ashes of dead heretics.
