O.E.
wrað, "angry" (lit. "tormented, twisted”), from P.Gmc.
*wraithaz (cf. O.Fris.
wreth "evil," O.S.
wred, M.Du.
wret, Du.
wreed "cruel," O.H.G.
reid, O.N.
reiðr "angry, offended"), from PIE
*wreit- "to turn" (see
wreath). Rare or obs. from early 16c. to mid-19c., but somewhat revived since, esp. in dignified writing, or this exchange:
Secretary: "The Dean is furious. He's waxing wroth."
Quincy Adams Wagstaf [Groucho]: "Is Roth out there too? Tell Roth to wax the Dean for a while."
["Horse Feathers," 1932]
[rawth, roth or, especially Brit., rohth] 
