Now arch. and rare. [f. WRACK sb.2 + -FUL.]
1. Causing shipwreck; wreckful.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, II. 64. To Syllas wrackfull shore with shypps approche we nye.
1583. Melbancke, Philotimus, T iv b. That … shears the fruitles sande with wrakfull waues.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. ii. 353. To stand still firm against the roaring noise Of wracktull Neptune.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., i. 326. Where king Latinus lent safe harbor for his Ships, with wrackfull tempests rent.
1623. Drumm. of Hawth., Flowres of Sion, xii. 6. These Lockes, of blushing deedes the gilt attire, Waues curling, wrackfull shelfes to shadow deepe.
1633. T. Bancroft, Gluttons Feauer, F 2 b. A Vessell, neare some wrackfull strand.
2. Causing destruction or devastation; effecting damage or harm; destructive.
1578. Mirr. Mag., 23 b. Then my delight was in the diery dent Of wrackful warre.
1594. Carew, Tasso (1881), 24. Eu’n so the king of streames … Beyond his banckes abroad all wrackfull goes.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., lxv. 6. O how shall summers hunny breath hold out Against the wrackfull siedge of battring dayes?
1633. T. Bancroft, Gluttons Feauer, B 6. Cracke all mine arteries with tortures tride, Yet must more stormes, more wrackfull woes abide?
1921. Chambers’s Jrnl., Jan. 50/1. A people that … has not had its mind and feelings warped by that wrackful war.
3. Subject to, attended by, injury, harm, etc.
1581. T. Howell, Deuises, B iv. To shunne the sheete of shame, which had bewrapt her wrackfull blemisht name.
1612. J. Davies (Heref.), Muses Sacr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 82/1. This Life, a Way; (a wrackfull way) that Wisedome lothes to proue.
1811. Scott, Don Roderick, III. vi. What wanton horrors marked their wrackful path!
