harrow
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈhæɹəʊ/
note: without the Mary–marry–merry merger
ipa: /ˈhæɹoʊ/
note: US, Mary–marry–merry merger
ipa: /ˈhɛɹoʊ/
rhymes: -æɹəʊ
Forms: form: harrows
form: harrowing
form: harrowed
form: harrowed
Etymology: From Middle English harwe, harow, from Old English *hearwa (perhaps ultimately cognate with harvest), or from Old Norse harfr/herfi; compare Danish harve (“harrow”), Dutch hark (“rake”). Akin to Latin carpere. According to the OED, the verb senses are partly derived from the noun sense, partly from a by-form of the verb harry, itself from Old English hergian.
Senses: examples: text: Will he harrow the valleys after thee?
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 39:10:
text: When the corn was sown, I had no harrow, but was forced to go over it myself, and drag a great heavy bough of a tree over it, to scratch it, as it may be called, rather than rake or harrow it.
ref: 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:
glosses: To drag a harrow over; to break up with a harrow.
examples: text: It harrows me with fear and wonder.
ref: c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
text: I could a Tale vnfold, vvhoſe lighteſt vvord / VVould harrovv vp thy ſoule, freeze thy young blood, / Make thy tvvo eyes like Starres, ſtart from their Spheres, / Thy knotty and combined locks to part, / And each particular haire to ſtand an end, / Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine: […]
ref: c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 257, column 2:
text: The headless horseman harrowed Ichabod Crane as he tried to reach the bridge.
ref: 1820, Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow:
synonyms: word: anguish
word: distress
word: trouble
word: afflict
word: aggrieve
word: plague
word: atray
word: cag
word: distress
word: engrieve
word: grame
word: harass
word: harrow
word: harry
word: torment
word: trouble
word: vex
word: rend
word: wring
glosses: To traumatize or disturb; to torment, distress or vex.
examples: text: my aged muscles harrow'd up with whips
ref: 1707, Nicholas Rowe, The Royal Convert:
synonyms: word: damage
word: harm
word: torture
word: abuse
word: annoy
word: bewound
word: damage
word: damnify
word: dere
word: do damage to
word: do for
word: do ill
word: do violence to
word: forwork
word: grieve
word: harm
word: harrow
word: hurt
word: injure
word: maul
word: misdo
word: put someone in hospital
word: scaith
word: scathe
word: vulnerate
word: wet
word: wound
word: ache
word: afflict
word: aggrieve
word: agonize
word: anguish
word: dere
word: excruciate
word: hurt
word: irritate
word: pang
word: pine
word: rack
word: throe
word: torment
word: torture
word: wring
glosses: To break or tear, as if with a harrow; to wound; to lacerate.
Derived terms: harrower
harrowing
harrowing of hell
harrow up
restharrow
upharrow