wrack
To execute vengeance onTo execute vengeance on; avenge.
» It was a very nerve-wracking experience.
Das war ein sehr nervenaufreibendes Erlebnis.
Meaning
3 senses(UK, dialectal, transitive)To execute vengeance on; avenge.
(UK, dialectal, transitive)To worry; tease; torment.
(transitive)To wreck, especially a ship.
- smash or break forcefully
Examples
13 sentencesIt was a very nerve-wracking experience.
deDas war ein sehr nervenaufreibendes Erlebnis. — Waldelfe
It was a nerve-wracking experience.
I'd definitely say it's nerve wracking.
Tom and Mary wracked their brains.
It was a nerve-wracking year for Tom.
Origin
From Middle English wrake, wrache, wreche, from a merger of Old English wracu, wræc (“miseFrom Middle English wrake, wrache, wreche, from a merger of Old English wracu, wræc (“misery, suffering”) and Old English wrǣċ (“vengeance, revenge”). See also wrake.
Late Middle English, from Middle Dutch wrak, ultimately related to Proto-Germanic *wrekaną (“to drive out”), the source of wreak and wreck. Doublet of vraic.
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Forms
wracks, wracking, wracked, wrackedSynonyms
2 synonymsWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle