O.E.
wrecan "avenge," originally "to drive, drive out, punish" (class V strong verb; past tense
wræc, pp.
wrecen), from P.Gmc.
*wrekanan (cf. O.S.
wrekan, O.N.
reka, O.Fris.
wreka, M.Du.
wreken "to drive, push, compel, pursue, throw," O.H.G.
rehhan, Ger.
rächen "to avenge," Goth.
wrikan "to persecute"), from PIE base
*werg- "to work, to do" (cf. Lith.
vergas "distress,"
vergas "slave," O.C.S.
vragu "enemy," L.
urgere; see
urge (v.)). Meaning "inflict or take vengeance," with
on, is recorded from c.1489; that of "inflict or cause (damage or destruction)" is attested from 1817.
[reek] 
