rankle
[ rang-kuhl ]
/ ˈræŋ kəl /
verb (used without object), ran·kled, ran·kling.
(of unpleasant feelings, experiences, etc.) to continue to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment within the mind; fester; be painful.
verb (used with object), ran·kled, ran·kling.
to cause keen irritation or bitter resentment in: His colleague's harsh criticism rankled him for days.
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Nearby words
Origin of rankle
Related formsran·kling·ly, adverbun·ran·kled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for rankle
British Dictionary definitions for rankle
rankle
/ (ˈræŋkəl) /
verb
(intr) to cause severe and continuous irritation, anger, or bitterness; festerhis failure to win still rankles
Word Origin for rankle
C14 ranclen, from Old French draoncler to fester, from draoncle ulcer, from Latin dracunculus small serpent, from dracō serpent; see dragon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for rankle
rankle
c.1300, "to fester," from Old French rancler, earlier raoncler, draoncler "to suppurate, run," from draoncle "abscess, festering sore," from Medieval Latin dracunculus, literally "little dragon," diminutive of Latin draco "serpent, dragon" (see dragon). The notion is of an ulcer caused by a snake's bite. Meaning "cause to fester" is from c.1400. Related: Rankled; rankling.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper