From Old English (before 12th century), from Proto-Indo-European '*wer-' ("to turn, bend, twist"), from PIE *wer- ("to turn, bend").
Extreme anger; strong vengeful anger or indignation; retributory punishment for sin or crime.
From Old English 'wrǣþþu' (anger, wrath), from 'wrāþ' (angry, furious, cruel), from Proto-Germanic '*wraiþaz' (twisted, angry), from PIE root *wer- (to turn, bend). The original concept behind 'wrath' is twisting — anger as a contortion of the mind or body. This connects to 'writhe' (to twist in pain), 'wreath' (something twisted), 'wrist' (the twisting joint), and 'wrangle' (to twist words). The entire 'wr-' word family in English carries this sense of twisting and distortion, and wrath is the emotion that twists a person out of their normal state. Key roots: *wraiþaz (Proto-Germanic: "twisted, angry"), *wer- (Proto-Indo-European: "to turn, bend").