nerve-wracking
See also: nervewracking
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]1867,[1] following earlier nerve-racking (1812).
Adjective
[edit]nerve-wracking (comparative more nerve-wracking, superlative most nerve-wracking)
- (proscribed) Alternative form of nerve-racking
- 1867 June, “Marriage Sermons and Serenades”, in The Guardian[1], page 172:
- To thrust this grating, screeching, nerve wracking, heart-rending, worse than Pandemonial howling, upon such an occasion, is the climax of cruelty.
- 1960 June, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Trains Illustrated, page 368:
- One could hardly commend any of these nerve-wracking exploits; [...].
Usage notes
[edit]Etymologically incorrect, but in common use;[2] strict usage prefers original nerve-racking. See usage notes for rack for details.
References
[edit]- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “nerve-wracking”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ nerve-wracking, nerve-racking at the Google Books Ngram Viewer.
Further reading
[edit]- “nerve-wracking”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.