'wrathfulness' originates from Modern English, specifically built from the adjective 'wrathful' plus the suffix '-ness', where 'wrathful' derives from 'wrath' + '-ful' (meaning 'full of') and '-ness' denotes 'state or quality'.

'wrath' comes from Old English 'wræð' or 'wrāth' meaning 'angry'; it passed into Middle English as 'wrath'. The adjective 'wrathful' was formed by adding the suffix '-ful', and later the noun-forming suffix '-ness' produced 'wrathfulness'.

Initially rooted in the Old English sense of 'anger' or 'angry', the components have kept a similar meaning; 'wrathfulness' specifically emphasizes the state or quality of being full of wrath.