The spelling of the word "wrought" can be a bit confusing, especially when it is pronounced. The word is actually pronounced as "rawt" with the IPA phonetic transcription of /rɔːt/. It is commonly used to describe something that has been crafted or made using skill, such as "hand-wrought silverware." Despite its peculiar spelling, "wrought" is a commonly used word and is just one example of the idiosyncrasies of the English language.
Wrought is an adjective with multiple meanings and uses in the English language.
One of its primary definitions refers to something that has been shaped or formed skillfully by hand or through meticulous workmanship. It is often used to describe objects or structures, particularly those made of metal, that have been carefully crafted or forged. For instance, a wrought iron gate or a wrought silver necklace would be considered as products of artistic craftsmanship.
Additionally, wrought can also mean being strongly influenced or deeply affected by a particular emotion or experience. It conveys a sense of intense emotional turmoil or agitation, usually resulting from a difficult or distressing situation. For example, someone might say "He was wrought with grief" to express profound sorrow or "She was wrought with anxiety" to indicate overwhelming worry.
Furthermore, wrought can be used as the past participle of the verb "work." In this context, it implies the action of bringing about or creating something through effort or labor. For example, "They had wrought a successful business through years of hard work."
Overall, wrought is a versatile word that encompasses notions of skilled craftsmanship, emotional intensity, and diligent endeavor, often evoking a sense of delicacy, creativity, and profound impact.
• Another pt. and pp. of the verb work; formed by work or labour.
• Of work; effected; performed; produced; actuated; influenced; agitated; disturbed; manufactured; in arch., brought to a fair surface; decorated by hand-labour.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "wrought" has an Old English origin and can be traced back to the Old English verb "wyrcan", which means "to work". In Middle English, the verb transformed into "wroughten", which was used as the past participle form of "work". Over time, "wroughten" gradually shortened into "wrought", but retained its meaning of "worked" or "made". The word is commonly used to describe something that is crafted or created through manual labor or skill.