Harrowing

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Harrowing

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adjective and verb

Pronunciation

HAR-oh-ing  /ˈhærəʊɪŋ/

Definition

As an adjective: acutely distressing; causing mental suffering or anguish; intensely upsetting. As a verb: the present participle of 'harrow' — to disturb greatly; also the agricultural practice of drawing a harrow over ploughed land to break up clods and prepare the soil.

Plain meaning

Harrowing means intensely and distressingly upsetting — a harrowing experience is one that causes real anguish. The agricultural sense of harrowing is the process of breaking up clods in a ploughed field with a harrow, preparing it for sowing.

Register

Neutral to literary in the distressing sense. Harrowing is a strong word — it implies a level of psychological distress beyond mere unpleasantness. Technical in the agricultural sense. The theological Harrowing of Hell is a specific and important concept in Christian theology and medieval literature.