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.
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.
To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
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