harrow

¹

[ har-oh ]

noun

1. an agricultural implement with spikelike teeth or upright disks, drawn chiefly over plowed land to level it, break up clods, root up weeds, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to draw a harrow over (land).
2. to disturb keenly or painfully; distress the mind, feelings, etc., of.

verb (used without object)

1. to become broken up by harrowing, as soil.

harrow

²

[ har-oh ]

verb (used with object)

, Archaic.

1. to ravish; violate; despoil.
2. harry ( def 2 ).
3. (of Christ) to descend into (hell) to free the righteous held captive.

Harrow

³

[ har-oh ]

noun

1. a borough of Greater London, in SE England.
2. a boarding school for boys, founded in 1571 at Harrow-on-the-Hill, an urban district near London, England.

harrow

¹

/ ˈhærəʊ /

verb

1. to plunder or ravish
2. (of Christ) to descend into (hell) to rescue righteous souls

harrow

²

/ ˈhærəʊ /

noun

1. any of various implements used to level the ground, stir the soil, break up clods, destroy weeds, etc, in soil

verb

1. tr to draw a harrow over (land)
2. intr (of soil) to become broken up through harrowing
3. tr to distress; vex

Harrow

³

/ ˈhærəʊ /

noun

1. a borough of NW Greater London; site of an English boys' public school founded in 1571 at Harrow-on-the-Hill, a part of this borough. Pop: 210 700 (2003 est). Area: 51 sq km (20 sq miles)

Derived Forms

• ˈharrowment, noun
• ˈharrower, noun
• ˈharrowing, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• harrow·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of harrow¹

1250–1300; Middle English harwe; akin to Old Norse herfi harrow, Dutch hark rake, Greek krṓpion sickle

Origin of harrow²

before 1000; Middle English harwen, herwen, Old English hergian to harry

Word History and Origins

Origin of harrow¹

C13: variant of Old English hergian to harry

Origin of harrow²

C13: of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish harv, Swedish harf; related to Middle Dutch harke rake

Example Sentences

These harrowing stories come as energy bills rise during what could be a cold winter for the first time since the peak of the energy crisis when Russia invaded Ukraine over two years ago.

From BBC

One "harrowing" attack left her needing tests for Hepatitis B after a woman with the condition, who had a bleeding foot, kicked her in the mouth, she said.

From BBC

Petticrew leads us through Dolours' youth through her and Marian's harrowing imprisonment.

From Salon

These are harrowing times when it comes to extreme weather.

From Los Angeles Times

This is a talky chamber piece of philosophical face-offs, debate duels and wordy warfare, though the outcomes remain just as harrowing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• afflict
• annoy
• bedevil
• bother
• harass
• hound
• hurt
• irritate
• mistreat
• molest
• nag
• pester
• plague
• smite
• tease
• torture
• vex