rankle
Use Rankle in a sentence
kəl verb (used without object)
1.
(of unpleasant feelings, experiences, etc.) to continue to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment within the mind; fester; be painful.
verb (used with object)
2.
to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment in: His colleague's harsh criticism rankled him for days.
Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English ranclen < Middle French rancler, Old French raoncler, variant of draoncler to fester, derivative of draoncle a sore < Late Latin dracunculus small serpent, diminutive of Latin dracō serpent; see dragon, carbuncle
1250–1300; Middle English ranclen < Middle French rancler, Old French raoncler, variant of draoncler to fester, derivative of draoncle a sore < Late Latin dracunculus small serpent, diminutive of Latin dracō serpent; see dragon, carbuncle
Related forms
ran·kling·ly, adverb
un·ran·kled, adjective
Synonyms
1, 2. irritate, gall, chafe.
1, 2. irritate, gall, chafe.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To rankle
00:10
Rankle
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
rankle (ˈræŋkəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| (intr) to cause severe and continuous irritation, anger, or bitterness; fester: his failure to win still rankles | |
| [C14 ranclen, from Old French draoncler to fester, from draoncle ulcer, from Latin dracunculus small serpent, from dracō serpent; see | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
rankle
c.1320, from O.Fr. rancler, from draoncle "abscess, festering sore," from L. dracunculus "little snake," dim. of draco (gen. draconis) "serpent, dragon." The notion is of an ulcer caused by a snake's bite.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
In a business that is only casually regulated by copyright laws, the steady proliferation of red-carpet adaptations can rankle.
Many professors rankle at the notion that they should have to worry about it now.
The stately gray home has over the last year become the center of a controversy that continues to rankle residents.
Security delays don't rankle unless there are longer waits at some airports than others.
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