Middle English

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Etymology

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wraw +‎ -nesse

Noun

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wrawnesse

  1. peevishness; ill temper; anger
    • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, section 53, line 680:
      But Accidie dooth no swich diligence; he dooth alle thing with anoy, and with wrawnesse, slaknesse, and excusacioun, and with ydelnesse and unlust; for which the book seith: ‘acursed be he that doth the service of god necligently.’
      But Sloth does no such diligence; he does all thing with vexation, and with fretfulness, slowness, and making excuses, and with idleness and disinclination; for which the book says: ‘Cursed be he that does the service of God negligently.’