Old Norse

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Proto-Germanic *wrekaną, whence also Old English wrecan (English wreak), Old High German rehhan, Old Saxon wrekan, Gothic 𐍅𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (wrikan).

Verb

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vreka

  1. to drive (away), to chase away
  2. to avenge, take vengeance
    • 800s, Anonymous, Vafþrúðnismǫ́l (‘the speeches of Vafþrúðnir’), stanza 2
      Ulfr glęypa / mun Aldafǫðr,
      þess mun Víðarr vreka;
      kalda kjapta / hann klyfja mun
      vitnis vígi at.
      The wolf will swallow the father of men <= Óðinn>; Víðarr will avenge that. The cold jaws he will cleave, at the fight with the wolf.

Conjugation

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Descendants

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  • Icelandic: reka
  • Faroese: reka
  • Norwegian: reke
    • Norwegian Nynorsk: reka
  • Old Swedish: vræka, rwæka
  • Danish: vrage
  • Gutnish: bräkä