Wracked

/rækt/ adjective or verb

Definition

Severely damaged or destroyed; or to torture or torment mentally (as in 'wracked with guilt').

Etymology

From Middle English 'wraken,' possibly from Middle Dutch 'wrack' (wreckage) or Old Norse 'rek' (wreck), but may be influenced by 'rack' (to torture).

Kelly Says

The connection between physical wreckage and emotional torment in this one word shows how we describe psychological pain using the language of destruction—'wracked with guilt' literally says the guilt wrecks you.

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