Also 4 wrongar. [f. WRONG v. + -ER1. Cf. LG. wranger distorter.]
1. One who wrongs another; a person who does wrong or amiss; an inflicter of wrong, harm or injury; a wrong-doer.
Freq. from c. 1840 (often contrasted with wronged).
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., V. xiii. 549. Defenders aȝens wrongers and diffamers of the … wickid world.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 1098. That he should warne the wronger to appeare … at Court, it to defend.
1594. Barnfield, Sheph. Content, xxv. If any by his fellowes be opprest, The wronger … Shall be well bangd.
a. 1618. [see WRINGER].
1667. Phil. Trans., II. 457. A great Wronger of our Nation.
182[?]. E. Elliot, Corn Law Rhymes (1904), 23. In our prayers, If we forget our wrongers, may we be Vile as their virtues.
1864. Trevelyan, Compet. Wallah (1866), 228. Utterly unable to make out whether his client was the wronged or the wronger, guilty or not guilty.
1895. W. Watson, Purple East (1896), 16.
| We deemed of old thou held’st a charge from Him | |
| Who watches girdled by His seraphim, | |
| To smite the wronger with thy destined rod. |
2. An injurer or misuser of something.
1591. Troub. Raigne K. John, ii. 152. Arme thee, traytor, wronger of renowne.
1610. Beaum. & Fl., Faithf. Sheph., IV. i. Learn not to be a wronger Of your word; was not your promise laid. Ibid. (c. 1625), Noble Gent., I. i. Do not give thy self … so open vile, So great a wronger of thy worth, so low.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Wranglands (old Records), misgrown Trees that will never prove Timber, q. d. Wrongers of Land.
