3.23.2008

WROUGHT

Wrought (adjective)
Pronunciation: [rat]
Definition: Worked, crafted, done.
Usage: Today's word is an archaic form for "worked" but it is still used fairly widely, e.g. overwrought "overworked, worked up," wrought up "worked up," and "wrought iron." The archaic noun has been crystallized in several words such as "wheelwright," "shipwright," and "playwright," which is unrelated to "write" but rather a Greek loan translation based on dramaturge from drama + ergon "work."

Playwright = escritor de peças para teatro/cinema/TV, etc.; um dramaturgo (Aguinaldo Silva is a playwright) A playwright, also known as a 'dramatist', is a person who writes dramatic literature or drama. These works may be written specifically to be performed by actors or they may be closet dramas or literary works written using dramatic forms but not meant for performance.

The term is not a variant spelling of playwrite, but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder (as in a wheelwright or cartwright). Hence the prefix and the suffix combine to indicate someone who crafts plays. The homophone with write is in this case coincidental.
Suggested Usage: Since today's is an archaic word, save it for an archaic mood; they come over you with increasing frequency as you mature. "The antiqued knotty pine shelf was wrought by my husband back when 'wrought' was the only participle for 'work.'" The reference of "wrought" is usually artifactual, "All my jewelry is hand-wrought right here in town." For this reason, using the word creatively is difficult: "a machine-wrought boat" sounds a bit facetious.

Fonte: Your Dictionary - "Word of the Day"