wreakfuladj.
/ˈriːkfʊl/ 1.
a. Of persons, etc.: Given or addicted to revenge; vengeful.
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > [adjective] > inclined to or eager for revenge
wrechefulc1290
wrakefula1300
vengeablec1380
revengeablea1522
vindicative1521
wreakful1531
vengible1548
revengeful?1560
avengeful1591
vengefula1599
vindictive1616
vindicable1632
1531 W. Tyndale Wks. (1572) 24/2 They also fayne ye saintes..more wreakeful, and vengeable, then the Poetes fayne their goddes.
1562 A. Brooke tr. M. Bandello Tragicall Hist. Romeus & Iuliet f. 59v Not helping to do any sinne that wrekefull Joue forbode.
1570 T. Norton tr. A. Nowell Catech. (1853) 201 A wreakful mind and revengeful of injuries.
1582 S. Batman Vppon Bartholome, De Proprietatibus Rerum xviii. xi. 349/1 No creature is more wreakful, nor more feruent to take wreak than is the Bee when he is wrath.
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xiv. 119 Atrides, this, doth passing fitly stand With sterne Achilles wreakfull spirit.
1653 H. Cogan tr. N. N. Scarlet Gown 80 Knowing well, that Antonio was wreakful, and vindicative.
1801 W. Richardson Maid of Lochlin 111 Of their own renown Wreakful assassins are those shallow rulers.
1805–6 H. F. Cary tr. Dante Inferno xi. 91 Less wreakful pours Justice divine on them its vengeance down.
b. transferred. Of natural agencies.
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > [adjective] > inclined to or eager for revenge > specifically of natural agencies
wreakful1561
1561 T. Norton & T. Sackville Gorboduc iii. i Destroy, I say, with flash of wrekefull fier The traitour sonne.
1594 Willobie his Auisa v. f. 7v Was earth consumde with wreakfull waues?
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 277 The wreakfull nature-drowning flood Spar'd not this beauteous place.
1616 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals II. v. 119 Vnsuccoured..From wreakefull stormes impetuous tyranny.
1838 S. Bellamy Betrayal 18 Summoning..From earth, and air, and their more proper hell, All wreakful influences.
2. Marked or characterized by desire for revenge; of the nature of vengeance or retribution.
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > reciprocal treatment or return of an action > revenge > [adjective]
wrackfulc1230
vengeablec1430
wrakeful?a1505
wreakful1532
vindicativec1550
wreckful1557
vindictive1627
vengeful1649
resentive1736
1532 R. Henryson Test. Creseyde in Wks. G. Chaucer sig. Qq.v/1 So sheweth through thy dede A wrekeful [?a1505 wraikfull] sentence gyuen on Creseyde.
1581 A. Hall tr. Homer 10 Bks. Iliades ix. 166 This short discourse..is onely you to pray..to put this wreakful wrath away.
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 75 He will (in wreakfull recompence that thou hast so disgrac't him,)..deforme thee.
1610 R. Niccols England's Eliza Induct. 9 In top of heau'n he tooke his wreakfull stand Ore that great Towne.
1616 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals II. ii. 44 Cold Winters stormes and wreakfull teene.
1751 M. Mendez Seasons, Spring 11 The cuckoo..with his wreakful tale the spouse doth fray.
1767 W. J. Mickle Concubine i. xxiv Left to your Aunts fell Spight and wreakfull Crueltie.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.1531