harrow
harrow Lexical Profile
harrow Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To cause extreme distress, torment, or mental pain to.
"The tragic news of the expedition's failure continued to harrow the minds of the explorers' families."
To draw a harrow over land in order to break up clods of soil and smooth the surface.
"After plowing the acreage, they needed to harrow the soil before sowing the winter wheat."
• noun
An agricultural implement consisting of a heavy frame set with teeth or tines, drawn over plowed land to break up clods, remove weeds, and cover seed.
"The farmer used a tractor to pull the harrow across the field, preparing the soil for spring planting."
• Rhymes for harrow
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'harwe', from Old English 'hearge' (a harrowing implement), of Germanic origin. The figurative sense of causing distress dates to the early 17th century, derived from the violent tearing action of the tool.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.