English Explanatory Dictionary

rankle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To cause irritation, bitterness or acrimony.
  2. To fester.
noun
  1. A festering, embittering object or condition, either mental, or a physical sore or ulcer.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹæŋ.kəl/ [ˈɹæŋ.kl̩] en-au-rankle.ogg /ˈɹeɪ̯ŋ.kəl/ [ˈɹeɪ̯ŋ.kl̩] /ˈɹɛ̃ŋ.kəl/ [ˈɹɛ̃ŋ.kl̩] en-us-rankle.ogg

Word forms

rankle rankles rankling rankled

Etymology

From Middle English ranklen, ranclen, from Old French rancler, räoncler, draoncler (“to ulcerate, to form a boil”), from Old French draoncle (“a boil”), from Latin dracunculus (“little serpent”), diminutive of Latin dracō (“serpent, dragon”).

Synonyms

embitter irritate

Derived words

ranklement ranklingly
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