Obs. Also 4 north., 5 Sc. wrak, 8 rake; 6 pa. pple. ywrake. [Irreg. var. of wreke WREAK v., prob. influenced by WRAKE sb.1 Cf. MDu. wraken, var. of wreken; MLG. wraken to torture.
OE. wraciende occurs as var. of wrecende (= carrying on) in Oros., I. xi.]
1. trans. = WRACK v.1 1. Occas. refl. Also fig.
c. 1205. Lay., 6015. Wrake we us on Bruttes & in to þan londen we sullen faren.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6256. Bot þan i sal me on him wrake. Ibid., 6597. Drightin sal me on yow wrak [v.r. wrake], To sauue þaa men þat has na sak.
c. 1400. Pride of Life, 88, in Non-Cycle Myst. Plays, 90. Deth & Life … striuith a sterne strife King of Life to wrake.
2. intr. To execute vengeance (on a person).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 25458. O mans-slaghter had I na mak, Ne nan sa wild in wa to wrak [Fairf. wrake], To riue þe grene and gra. Ibid., 27459. Quare euer he mai þat man ouer-tak, He sal wit suerd apon him wrak [Fairf. wrake].
3. a. To be wroth or angry. rare–1.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter vii. 12 (E.). God demer riht, þoland, and strang, Nou wrakes [v.r. wrathes] be daies alle lang?
b. To wax violent or furious; to rage.
c. 1330. King of Tars, 148. Gret werre tho bigon to wrake, For the mariage ne moste be take Of that mayden heende.
4. trans. To vent (one’s wrath); = WREAK v. 3.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. viii. 14. Ah wofull man, what … wrath of cruell wight on theo ywrake … doth thee thus wretched make?
b. To take (vengeance) on some one.
1755. Mem. Capt. P. Drake, I. xiii. 102. In the End, I sufficiently raked my Vengeance on Mrs. Dickering.
