bewreak
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English bewreken (“to take revenge, avenge”), equivalent to be- + wreak. Compare Old English bewrecan (“to drive away, exile, banish”). Compare awreak.
Verb edit
bewreak (third-person singular simple present bewreaks, present participle bewreaking, simple past and past participle bewreaked)
- (transitive, obsolete) To avenge; revenge.
- 1778, Thomas Chatterton, The Rowley Poems:
- Gemoted warriours to bewrecke her bedde
- (transitive) To give vent in action to (incensed feelings).
- 1841, John Foxe, The History of John Wickliffe, page 21:
- The Londoners seeing that they could get no vantage against the duke, who was without their reach, to bewreak their anger they took his arms, which in most despiteful wise they hanged up in the open places of the city in sign of reproach, as for a traitor; […]