wrength

English

Etymology

From Middle English wrength, which may derive from an unattested Old English *wrengþu (“unevenness, wrongness, inequity”) (from wrang (“wrong”)) or have been formed in Middle English from wrong on analogy with strong : strength and long : length (see -th); modern uses may be similarly analogical nonces.

Pronunciation

• enPR: rĕngth, IPA^(key): /ɹɛŋθ/
• Rhymes: -ɛŋθ

Noun

wrength (uncountable)

1. (rare and now nonstandard) The state or condition of being wrong; wrongness; wrongfulness.
   • 1823, Ringan Gilhaize, The covenanters, by the author of Annals of the parish:

     Those who would exalt themselves by abetting the strength of the Godless, and the wrength of the oppressors.

   • 1905, Juvenile Nonfiction

     [...] Wrong is short-lived, and right must vanquish at length, If, scorning the wrong, we do others no wrength.

   • 2012, Amber McRee Turner, Sway:

     "Dad," I said, "this isn't an in-between, is it?" "This isn't an in-between," He said. "Honestly, Cass, I'm at a loss for what to call this." "I know exactly what to call it," I said. "Wrength." "Wrength?" "Wrongness." In fact, the way I saw it, Mom had invented a whole new level of wrongness. A bad so bad that wrength might not even be capable of describing it. [...]"

Related terms

• wrong

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Middle English

Etymology

From Old English *wrengþu (“wrongfulness”), from Old English wrang (“wrong”), or formed in Middle English from wrong +‎ -th on analogy with strength and length.

Noun

wrength (plural wrengths)

1. The state or quality of being wrong, wrongfulness, injustice; crookedness; distortion.
   • c1220, Bestiary 85 in Old Eng. Misc. 3:

     Ðanne goð he to a ston, & he billeð ðer-on, Billeð til his bec biforn haueð ðe wrengðe forloren.

Descendants

• Scots: wrength
• English: wrength

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Scots

Etymology

1823, from wrang, wrong (“wrong”), formed on analogy with strength (from strong), length (from long) by R. Gilhaize Galt, or from Middle English wrength (“wrongfulness”). More at wrong.

Pronunciation

• enPR: rĕngth, IPA^(key): /rɛŋθ/

Noun

wrength (plural wrengths)

1. wrongfulness, injustice

Related terms

• wrong

References

• William Graham, The Scots Word Book, "injustice", 1980.
• Notes: