I. ˈrēk transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English wreken, from Old English wrecan to drive, drive out, punish, avenge; akin to Middle Dutch wreken to punish, avenge, Old High German rehhan to avenge, Old Norse reka to drive, push, avenge, Gothic wrikan to persecute, Latin urgēre to press, drive, urge, Lithuanian vargti to suffer distress and perhaps to Sanskrit vrajati he goes, proceeds; basic meaning: push, drive
1.
a.
(1) archaic : to take vengeance for : inflict punishment in retribution for : avenge
wreak thy wrongs in battle line — Sir Walter Scott
(2) archaic : to avenge an injury done to
grant me some knight to … wreak me for my son — Alfred Tennyson
b. : to act so as to exact or inflict (vengeance or punishment)
the woeful retribution Nature wreaked upon a life of indulgence — George Meredith
wreak vengeance on the disturbers of their rights — R.W.Southern
2.
a. : to give free play or course to (a drive or an especially malevolent feeling) : find outlet for in action or expression : indulge , gratify
must wreak my anger somewhere — H.J.Laski
during one of these explosions he wreaks the fullness of his fury upon his wife — Michele Cantarella
could wreak his hungry curiosity upon her — Arnold Bennett
b. : to express or release completely : expend
an agony quickly wreaked and exhausted — F.J.Mather
wreaking our energies upon reforms — B.N.Cardozo
3. : to bring about (harm) : cause , inflict
employed to wreak evil on personal enemies — Notes & Queries on Anthropology
the terribly severe winter … wreaked havoc among the animals — Alexander Tewnion
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English wreke, from wreken to punish, avenge, wreak
archaic : revenge , vengeance