Obs. Forms: α. 1 Northumb. wræðan (wuræðan), 2–3 wreðen (3 werðen), 5 wrethyn; 4 wreþi, 4–5 wreþe, wreth(e, 5 Sc. wreyth. β. 5 north. writhe. [OE. wrǽðan, causative verb f. wráþ WROTH a. Cf. WROTH v.]
1. trans. Of persons (or things): To make angry; to vex, anger, irritate. = WRATH v. 2.
In frequent use from c. 1300 to c. 1400.
c. 900. Rituale Eccl. Dunelm. (Surtees), 107. Se cyng … mið ðy ʓiherde wræðde & sende herʓvm sinvm.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xviii. 34. And wuraeðde [L. iratus] hlaferd his ʓesalde hine ðæm pinerum.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 39. Bute we inwarliche imilcien and forȝeuen þan monne þe us wreðeð and sceandet.
c. 1230. Hali Meid. (1922), 38. For moni þing schal þam wreaðen & gremien.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., 197. Þet ich ðe wreðede sume siðe hit me reoweð sore.
13[?]. Seuyn Sages (W.), 3461. Sir, ye er wrethed wrang; That sal ye wit wele or I gang.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 45. Gif he tuk till his helping, Ane or othir suld wrethit be.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 199. God … no man refusyth, haue he neuer so myche hym wrethyd.
c. 1475. Partenay, 2856. More neuer ne was woer … Then off that he hade wrethed so Raymounde.
b. refl. To wax angry; = WRATH v. 3.
c. 1205. Lay., 9214. Þe kæisere hine wrædde, Þe wurs him wes on heorte.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18221. Wit þis can iesus him to wreth.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, vii. 12. God is rightwis iuge;… he wrethis him noght ilk day.
c. 1400. Ywaine & Gaw., 995. For na thing that thou mai sayn, Wil i me wreth.
c. 1430. Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, III. xxxii. (1869), 153. Nature wolde wretthe hire if man [etc.].
c. impers. = ANGER v. 2 b.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 4639. Or ellis ȝow writhis with ȝour wele, for ȝe na welth haue!
2. intr. To become or be angry; = WRATH v. 1.
c. 900. Rituale Eccl. Dunelm. (Surtees), 197. Wræððe … diwl [L. fremuit diabulus].
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. v. 22. Eʓhuelc seðe uraeðes broðere his.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 33. Tobreoke anes eorðliches monnes heste, he wile wreðe wið þe.
a. 1225. Juliana, 13 (Bodl. MS.). Affrican wreaðede & swor swiðe deopliche.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 1584. Be ðu ðer … til esau Eðe moðed be, ðe wreðed nu.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, ii. 12. Gripes disciplyne, leswhen lord wreth: and ȝe perisch fra rightwis way.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, V. 207. Þat he schulde whanne he gan to wreþe seie ofte and by ordre foure and twenty lettres of Grewe.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 2593. Þen þe berne writhis, Fandis him first on be-fore, & all foloȝes eftir.
14[?]. Titus & Vesp. (Roxb.), 1404 (Addit. MS. 10036). Thei wreþed with him for his sawe.
c. 1475. Partenay, 4853. It was for his syne That his fader had wrethed heuyly so.
3. trans. To be angry with (a person); = WRATH v. 4.
c. 1420. Chaucer’s Troylus, III. 174 (Harl. MS. 2280). Ny nyl [I] forbere if þat ȝe don amys To wreth ȝow.
c. 1500. Poems Gray MS. (S.T.S.), 46. Quhy wrethis þou me? I greif þe nocht.
Hence † Wrethed ppl. a.; † Wrething vbl. sb.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, vi. 1. He sall be seen til ill men as *wrethid and as wode.
1567. Satir. Poems Reform., iv. 136. The crewell work of wretheit womanheid.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 29511. Quen man … wit *wrething wode, Gis his sentence on ani man.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 5036. Lefe of þi wordis, For writhing of þir wale treeis, & willne þaim na mare.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxlvi. By quhois effectis grete Ȝe movit are to wrething.
