wrought

Definitions

wrought is simply the archaic past participle of work — 'I have wrought' once meant 'I have worked,' just as 'sung' goes with 'sing.' It survives mainly as an adjective in metalworking: wrought iron is iron that has been worked (hammered and shaped) by hand rather than cast.

Why It Means This

wrought is a living fossil. English once had 'work / wrought / wrought' the way it still has 'bring / brought.' Regular '-ed' later took over (worked), but the old form clung to the blacksmith's trade, where 'worked iron' was a precise technical distinction from cast iron. That is why wrought now sounds antique and craftsmanlike rather than everyday.

Common Collocations

• 1.wrought iron锻铁
• 2.wrought metal锻造的金属
• 3.finely wrought精心打造的

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The balcony has a beautiful wrought iron railing.

• 2.

  The gate was finely wrought by a local blacksmith.

• 3.

  Wrought metal is tougher than cast metal.