harrowing

Pluralharrowings

1. 1
   adjectiveformal

   Causing pain or making someone very upset and troubled.

   The family told us about their harrowing trip across the desert.

   Waiting all night for news from the hospital was harrowing.

   Similardistressing, traumatic, agonizing, terrifying, disturbing

   Note
2. 2
   verb

   The -ing form of harrow. Use it after am, is, are, was or were, or to name the action.

   The farmer is harrowing the field before he plants the corn.

   Guilt kept harrowing him long after the accident.

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Breaking up the soil in a field with a farm tool that is pulled over the ground.

   The field needs a good harrowing before we plant the seeds.

   After two harrowings, the soil was soft and even.

4. 4
   noun

   In Christian belief, Christ breaking into Hell between his death and rising again, to free good people's souls.

   The church window shows the harrowing of hell, with Christ breaking down the gates.

   Before Easter, our teacher told us the story of Christ's harrowing of hell.

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Terrible pain or suffering, in the body or the mind.

   She never talked about the harrowings she went through as a child.

   His letters home said little about the harrowing he lived through in prison.

   Similartorment, suffering, agony, anguish, ordeal

6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   When enemies attack a place and destroy and steal things there on purpose.

   The village never recovered from the harrowing of the valley by the raiders.

   The king ordered the harrowing of the rebel lands.

   Similarravaging, plundering, devastation

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 6