Meaning of Harrowing | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The process of breaking up earth with a harrow.
2. Suffering, torment.
3. Ravaging; hostile incursion; spoliation; intentional widespread destruction.
4. Christ's ravaging or hostile incursion of Hell, conducted between his crucifixion and resurrection, in which he liberated the souls of the righteous held captive by Satan.

Equivalents

Examples

“The field received two harrowings.”

“Scientists who complain about the helplessness of politicians might consider the desolation in England which followed the harrowing of the north by William the Conqueror or the state of the Palatinate long after the end of the Thirty Years War[.]”

“As in other myths, like Christ's harrowing of hell, the initiate descends into the netherworld for the magical three days.”

“In the harrowing, Christ sweeps down upon death, hell, and the Devil, smashes down the doors of hell, and triumphantly carries the just off to heaven.”

“The motif of the harrowing of hell was highly influential in the Insular world.”

“But Juliana's uniquely powerful chaining of the devil is surely meant to recall Christ's harrowing of hell.”

CEFR level