a. Obs. [Early ME. wrēðful, f. wrēðe WRETHE sb. + -FUL. cf. WRATHFUL a., WROTHFUL a.]
1. Of persons: Angry, irate; = WRATHFUL a. 1.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 43. Heo wes … liȝere and swikel, and wreðful and ontful.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 118. Pellican is a leane fowel, so weamod & so wreðful þet [etc.].
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 5107. Ihesu Crist, Þat til þam swa wrethful sal seme þan.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, IV. 297. For he was … wreþful, and priveliche envious and opounliche disceyvable.
1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 233. He that hath a sharpe noose and smale, he is wrethfull.
absol. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 212. Þe wreðfule biuoren þe ueonde skirmeð mid kniues.
1340. Ayenb., 30. Þe þridde werre þet þe wreþuolle heþ is to þan þet byeþ onder him.
2. Marked or characterized by wrath.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 141. The bischop sau that Godd wald tak of this man sin wrethful wrac.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, XI. viii. 163. Quhidder this turn to Goddis wrethfull wraik, Or hardyment and honour.
Hence † Wrethfully adv.; Wrethfulness. Obs.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 58. Þe hound of wrethfulnes [text wrechfulnes; L. iracundiæ] grenniþ wiþ his teþ.
c. 1475. Partenay, 2218. Then thes paynymes wrethfully ther-thens Whent.
