Rankle /(răṉ"k'l)/

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.

   This would have left a rankling wound in the hearts of the people.

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.

1. To cause to fester; to make sore; to inflame. [R.]