Wreke

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Archaic spelling of the verb meaning to inflict harm, punishment or revenge on someone ; to release or express strong feeling such as anger without restraint
2. An old form of the verb for bringing about damage or retribution on another ; to let a powerful emotion like rage pour out freely
3. Used in older English to mean carrying out vengeance or causing destruction upon others ; giving full and unrestrained expression to passion or fury

Etymology: "Wreke" is an older spelling of "wreak," from Old English "wrecan," which meant to drive, pursue, or punish. Its strongest early sense was vengeance, and it is a cognate of German "rächen," still meaning "to avenge." Over the Middle English period, the verb's object drifted from the punishment itself to the act of inflicting harm in general. The old pursuit-and-punishment core survives in "wreak vengeance," while later phrases such as "wreak havoc" use the verb simply for causing damage. Despite the similar spelling, "wreak" is unrelated to "wreck," which came into English from Old Norse "vrak," meaning cast-off goods.