Rankle — Defs

01 v. i. To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; -- used literally and figuratively.

imp. & p. p. Rankled; p. pr. & vb. n. Rankling

1.
To become, or be, rank; to grow rank or strong; to be inflamed; to fester; -- used literally and figuratively.
“A malady that burns and rankles inward.” — Rowe.

“This would have left a rankling wound in the hearts of the people.” — Burke.
2.
To produce a festering or inflamed effect; to cause a sore; -- used literally and figuratively; as, a splinter rankles in the flesh; the words rankled in his bosom.

02 v. t. To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame.