nerve-wracking

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Archived revision by WingerBot (talk | contribs) as of 02:28, 29 September 2019.
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See also: nervewracking

English

Etymology

1867,[1] following earlier nerve-racking (1812).

Adjective

nerve-wracking (comparative more nerve-wracking, superlative most nerve-wracking)

  1. (proscribed) Alternative form of nerve-racking
    • 1867 June, “Marriage Sermons and Serenades”, in The Guardian‎[1], page 172:
      To thrust this grating, screeching, nerve wracking, heart-rending, worse than Pandemonial howling, upon such an occasion, is the climax of cruelty.

Usage notes

Etymologically incorrect, but in common use; strict usage prefers original nerve-racking. See usage notes for rack for details.

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “nerve-wracking”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=nerve-wracking&oldid=54381414"