Rankle
/ˈræŋkəl/noun
To cause persistent irritation, resentment, or bitterness.
Did you know?*Rankle* comes from a French root tied to a sore or ulcer, so its emotional meaning began as a bodily image of something raw, inflamed, and slowly worsening.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reǵ-
“to rot, decay, or become putrid”
Latin
Latin
rancēre
“to be stale, rotten, or rank”
Old French
Old French
rancler
“to fester; to become sore or inflamed”
Middle English
English
ranklen
“to fester or become inflamed”
Modern English
English
rankle
“to cause persistent irritation or resentment”