Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RACK, v.t.¹ [from the noun.]

1. To torture; to stretch or strain on the rack or wheel; as, to rack a criminal or suspected person, to extort a confession of his guilt, or compel him to betray his accomplices. – Dryden.
2. To torment; to torture; to affect with extreme pain or anguish; as, racked with deep despair. – Milton.
3. To harass by exaction. The landlords there shamefully rack their tenants. – Spenser.
4. To stretch; to strain vehemently; to wrest; as, to rack and stretch Scripture; to rack invention. Hooker. Waterland. The wisest among the heathens racked their wits. – Tillotson.
5. To stretch; to extend. – Shak.