Was an intransive verb meaning "to rot", used figuratively to indicate a grievance that would develop into a grudge -- e.g., "It rankled with me that, being a woman, I could expect to work just as hard as a man for half the wages." Now used transitively (generally by journalists) to mean "enrage" -- e.g., "Women are rankled by continuing wage disparity." I suspect an expensive college education not backed up by enough reading.

submitted by Charmion

TrackBack ping me at:

http://www.wordpirates.com/index.cgi.trackback