wrath
/ræθ/ (US), /rɒθ/ (UK)
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*wraiþaz — twisted, angry
Overview
Meaning Now
- Extreme anger; ire.
- Divine vengeance or retribution.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
wrāð
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The concept of 'wrath' in English stems from the Germanic perception that anger causes one's mind or body to become 'twisted'. This metaphorical connection between physical distortion and intense emotion is a common theme in early Germanic vocabularies.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*wraiþaz
“twisted, crooked; angry”
Original sense related to turning or twisting.
- Old English
wrāð
“angry, fierce, hostile”
Adjective form.
- Middle English
wrath
“fierce anger”
Shift from adjective to noun usage.
Connections
Word parts
wrath
root
anger
Related across languages
Old Norse
reiðr
angry
Old High German
reid
twisted
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.