Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
wrong-headed
wrong number
wrong’un
wrongdoing
wrongful
wrongful death action
wrote
wroth
wrought
wrought iron
wrought-up
WRP
WRT
wrung
WRVS
wry
wrybill
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "wrought" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

wrought

wrought [ rawt ]
Definition:
 
( archaic )
Past participle, past tense of  work




adjective 
Definition:
 
1. made carefully or decoratively: made in a skillful or decorative way ( often used in combination )
a delicately wrought ebony screen

2. relating to decorative metalwork: describes decorative metalwork shaped by hammering and welding


Word Usage

Wrought is an old past tense and past participle not of wreak (for which the past tense is wreaked) but of work: it is the equivalent of modern worked. Wrought survives mainly as an adjective in a few, rather specialized contexts such as wrought iron; it is seen also in the set phrase What hath God wrought (used by Samuel Morse in the first successful test of the telegraph). Wrought havoc is not correct; it should be wreaked havoc.

Englishtown: Learn English online
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Upgrade your Encarta experience
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft