Writhe v.¹

Forms: 1 wriðan, 3 wriðen, 4 wryþen, 4–5 wrythen, 5 wrythyn, writhyn; 4–5 wriþe, 4– writhe (6 wriethe), 4–7 writh (6 wrieth); 4–5 wryþe, 4–7 wrythe, wryth. Pa. t. 1 wraþ, 3 wræð, 5 wraythe, wrathe; 3 wreoð, 4–5 wroþ, wroth, 5 wrothe, wrooth. Pl. 1 wriþon, 2 uurythen, 3 wryþen, 4 writhen (7 writhe), 5–6 wrythen (6 wrethen). Pa. pple. 1 ʓewriðen, 3 ywriðen, 4–5 iwriþen, ywrithen, ywryþe, y-, iwrithe; 1, 4 wriþen, 4– writhen (4 -un, 5 -yn, 6 -in), 5–7 wrythen (5 -yn); 4 writhe, 5 wrythe; 4 wreþen, 4–6 wrethen (5 -yn), 5 ywrethe; 6 wrothonne. Weak pa. t. and pa. pple. 5– writhed, 4–6 wrythed. [OE. wríðan str. v. (pa. t. wráþ, pl. wriðon; pa. pple. ʓewriðen), also ʓewríðan, = OFris. *wrîða (NFris. wriir, wrial), OHG. rîdan (in ga-, kirîdan; MHG. rîden), ON. ríða, MSw. vriþa (Sw. vrida), MDa. and Da. vride, related to wriða WREATH. Cf. WREATHE v.

  The northern ME. pa. t. wraythe may represent ON. *wreið pa. t. of *wriða (later riða).]

  I.  trans. 1. To twist or coil (something); to fashion into coils or folds; to dispose or arrange in a coiled or sinuous form; to bend or distort by twisting. Freq. with about, over, round preps., up adv. Also refl.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gram., xxvi. (Z.), 155. Torqueo, ic wriðe.

1154.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.), an. 1137. Me dide cnotted strenges abuton here hæued & uurythen to ðæt it ʓæde to þe hærnes.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VI. 9. He bar a bordun i-bounde wiþ a brod lyste, In a weþe-bondes wyse i-wriþen aboute.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 278. A ȝerde mai growe so greet … þat men shal not wriþe it.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., III. 118. Writhe not the hed of thy sarment.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 21. He writhed a litell wipse of strawe.

c. 1460.  [see WRAPPER sb. 1].

a. 1500.  Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510), A ij b. A grene wand … may be wrethen whyle it is grene.

1568.  Turner, Herbal, II. 128. The floures grew very thyck together as they were writhen about the stalcke.

1614.  D. Dyke, Myst. Selfe-Deceiuing (1630), 279. Correcting the crookedness of a twig hee writhes it too much the other way.

1635.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 149. Never was there … serpent wrythen up so suddenly.

1643.  in Sir J. Temple, Irish Rebell. (1646), 117. They would take and writh wyths about their heads.

1658.  trans. Porta’s Nat. Magic, I. viii. 12. The pulse called Lupines, still looks after the Sun, that it may not writhe his stalk.

1745.  trans. Columella’s Husb., III. xviii. Twisting and writhing the head of a shoot.

c. 1745[?].  Shenstone, Elegies, xx. 39. Here the dry dipsa writhes his sinuous mail.

1827.  Pollok, Course T., V. 597. The Worm … writhing its folds In hideous sort.

1832.  Motherwell, Poems, 45. This leafless tree, That’s writhen o’er the linn.

1866.  Chr. Rossetti, Prince’s Progr., 6. Who twisted her hair … And writhed it shining in serpent-coils.

1901.  Weyman, Ct. Hannibal, vi. The tiring-maid … flung herself … at Mademoiselle’s knees,… writhing herself about them.

  † b.  To force in wreaths. Obs.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., I. met. iv. 7 (Camb. MS.). Veseuus … writ[h]ith [L. torquet] owtthorw his brokene chymynees smokynge fyres.

  c.  To change or fashion into († to) some form, etc., by wreathing or twisting.

1582.  Mulcaster, Elementarie, I. (1925), 25. If the pliable mind be vnwiselie writhen to a disfigured shape.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, xxxiv. Their countenances seemed fiercely writhen into the wildest expression of pride.

1851.  Ruskin, Stones Ven., I. i. § 26. 17. The Arab … points the arch and writhes it into extravagant foliations.

1879.  Symonds, Sk. Italy & Greece (ed. 2), 291. Snow lies … writhed into loveliest wreaths.

  † 2.  To unite, combine, or make compact, by twisting, entwining or interweaving; to join with something, twine together; to intertwine. Freq. with together. Obs.

c. 1205.  Lay., 25974. Þat weore twælf swine … mid wiðen … y-wriðen al to-gadere.

1388.  Wyclif, Judges xvi. 9. As if a man brekith a threed of herdis, writhun with spotle.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. cl. (Bodl. MS.). Al schrubbes and treen wiþ prickes … beþ ywounde and ywrethe togedres, and biclippiþ … euriche oþer.

a. 1400–50.  Bk. Curtasye, 440, in Babees Bk., 313. Litere … Wele watered, i-wrythen, be craft y-trode. Ibid., 442. Wyspes … Wele wrethyn and turnyd a-ȝayne þat tyde.

c. 1425.  Seven Sag. (P.), 1792. The wyf fast hyre keyes wrothe In the end of the borde clothe.

a. 1500.  Flower & Leaf, viii. The hegge also … With sicamour was set and eglantere, Writhen in-fere so wel.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Nerui tortiles,… stringes writhed together.

1600.  Surflet, Countrie Farme, I. xiii. 86. Let them rub them … with a wispe of strawe harde writhen together.

1654.  Whitelocke, Jrnl. Swed. Emb. (1772), I. 179. Their stirrup [is] a withe writhed togither.

1671.  J. Webster, Metallogr., xiii. 209. Thick truncks, which were writhen variously amongst themselves.

  † 3.  To form or fashion (a wreath, etc.) by plaiting, entwining or twisting; to plait. Also with together. Obs.

c. 1275.  [see WRASE 1].

1388.  Wyclif, John xix. 2. Kniȝtis writhen a coroun of thornes.

c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, I. 121. Þay wrythen a crowne of þornys and setten on his hed.

1520.  Treat. Galaunt, 191. Theyr typpettes be wrythen lyke to a chayne.

c. 1550.  Cheke, Matt. xxvii. 29. Writhing together a crown of thistels.

1563.  Shute, Archit., D iv b. The other Astragalus … shalbe wrothonne like a wreath.

  † 4.  To turn or wrench round or to a side; to twist about; to wring. Obs.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3462. Þair strut it was vn-stern stith, Wit wrathli wrestes aiþer writh.

1388.  Wyclif, Lev. i. 15. Whanne the heed is writhun to the necke.

1513.  Douglas, Æneid, I. iii. 19. Ane blusterand bub … The schippis stewyn frawart hir went can writhe.

1584.  Bedingfield, trans. Corte’s Art Riding, 101. An angrie horsse … that dooth wryth his head from one side to the other.

1607.  Markham, Cavel., II. (1617), 80. To carrie your cudgell in his eye of that side which he most writheth.

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, X. 448. Æneas writh’d his Dart, and stopp’d his bawling Breath.

1713.  Steele, Englishm., No. 1. 5. There may be a Way of appearing Wise by writhing the Head.

  fig. and in fig. context.  1513.  Douglas, Æneid, IV. xi. 95. Hir faynt spreit in all partis writhis [L. versabat] sche.

a. 1547.  Surrey, Æneid, IV. 282. [He] writhed his loke toward the royal walls.

1603.  Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 141. A yoong wench hath him sure enough by the necke, and doth writhe him which way she list!

1684.  H. More, Answer, Pref. b j b. The Remarker … has writhen and forced his Wit and Invention to personate [etc.].

  † b.  fig. To divert or deflect from or to a person, course, etc.; to cause to turn away, bend or incline towards another. Cf. WRENCH v. 4 b.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 15569. For þai wald writ [v.rr. writh, wriþe] on me … al þair aun wijt. Ibid., 28101.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxi. (Eugenia), 361. Þar-for scho thocht wele to wricht [read writhe] in hyme hir wikitnes alsuyth. Ibid., xlii. (Agatha), 97. For to wryth agathis wil fra cryst.

1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. 2011. Whan þat he his aspectis glade Fro a man listeth for to writhe.

1534.  Whitinton, Tullyes Offices, II. (1540), 87. Pleasures fayre … ofte tymes wrythe the bygger partes of the soule fro vertue.

1561.  Norton & Sackv., Gorboduc, I. ii. Lest the fraude … Of flattering tongues … wrythe them to the wayes of youthfull lust.

1642.  Charles I., Lett. to Mayor of Bristol, 2. The rebellious instigation … to writhe and bend your inclinations to oppose Me.

1655.  [see WRENCH v. 6 c].

  † c.  With advs., as about, aside, away, back. Occas. fig. and in fig. context. Obs.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 4359. Fortune … can writhe hir heed awey.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Bludy Serk, 107. Sa suld we wryth all syn away.

c. 1550.  H. Lloyd, Treas. Health, A j. If the eyes be wrythen asyde.

a. 1564.  Becon, Treat. Fasting, iv. To wryth his head about lyke an hope.

1609.  Bible (Douay), Lev. v. 7–8. He … shal wryth backe the heade therof to the litle pinions.

  5.  To subject (the body, limbs, etc.) to a contorting or twisting movement; to twist, contort; to wring or wreathe. Also with advs., as around, round, together, up, and absol.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. VII. 66. He wroth hus fust vp-on wratthe.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Cron., VI. xviii. 1975. Þan spak Makbeth dispytusly,… Lyk al wrethyn [v.r. wrythin] in his skyn.

c. 1450.  Ludus Coventriæ, 28. Wrythe on to my necke bon with hardnesse of þin honde.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Torqueo, To writhe one’s necke.

1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Constancie, vii. He … Whom nothing can procure … To writhe his limbes.

1691.  Baxter, Certainty Worlds Spirits, 166. Some Reapers … were hurt, writhen, and one killed with a Whirlwind.

1711.  Budgell, Spect., No. 161, ¶ 3. A Country Girl … writhing and distorting her whole Body.

1791.  E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., I. 75. The alarmed Goddess … Writhes her fair limbs.

1814.  W. Brown, Hist. Propag. Chr., II. 434. In the fall, his hip was writhed.

1865.  B. Brierley, Irkdale, I. 143. Aw’ll wrythe thy neck reawnd.

1884.  Pall Mall Gaz., 14 March, 1/1. The Arabs … writhed their bodies under guns, Gatlings, and muskets.

  refl.  1667.  Milton, P. L., VI. 328. Then Satan first knew pain, And writh’d him to and fro convolv’d.

1814.  Scott, Lord of Isles, VI. xxxii. The mountaineer Yet writhed him up against the spear.

1895.  Crockett, Men of Moss-Hags, xxiii. 169. The creature writhed himself in glee.

  b.  To distort (the face, etc.); to draw awry; = WRING v. 2 b.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Test. Cres., 189. The God of Ire … Wrything his face with mony angrie word.

1545.  Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 145. Some make a face with writhing theyr mouthe.

1548.  Elyot, Intorquere mentum, to writhe or wreste the chynne.

1609.  Bible (Douay), Prov. xix. 1. Better is a poore man … then a rich writhing his lippes.

1667.  Milton, P. L., X. 569. They … writh’d thir jaws.

1755.  Johnson, Distortion,… irregular motion by which the face is writhed.

1864.  Tennyson, Boädicea, 74. [They] Madly dash’d the darts together, writhing barbarous lineaments.

  c.  To utter, speak out, with a writhe.

1889.  Gunter, That Frenchman! xxi. 290. As they drag her back … she writhes out to Ora…: ‘They’ll do the same to you.’

1902.  Snaith, Wayfarers, xii. Sir Thomas would grunt and wriggle and writhe his tipsy protests.

  d.  To make or pursue (its way) by writhing.

1867.  J. G. Wood, Illustr. Nat. Hist., 326. The snake which has writhed its way to the Mocking Bird’s nest.

  6.  To twist or wrench (something) out of place, position or relation; = WRING v. 6. Const. with advs., as asunder, † atwo, off, out, or preps., as from, off, out of. Also refl. Occas. fig.

1388.  Wyclif, 2 Sam. xxiii. 21. Bi miȝt he wrooth out the spere fro the bond of the man.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 271. He his necke hath writhe atuo.

c. 1420.  Liber Cocorum (1862), 48. Sethe þy capone,… brisse hom in hast And wrythe itwen.

1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, x. 39. There myghte ye see … crampons of yron wrythen a sondre.

1554–9.  Songs & Ball. Phil. & Mary (Roxb.), 12. I wolde God in sondare I myght wrythe his necke boune.

a. 1600[?].  in Child, Ballads, III. 413/34. Then he writhe the gold ring of his ffingar.

1606.  Marston, Parasit., V. H 4 b. Cupid…, Whose force writh’d lightning from loues shaking hand.

1684.  H. More, Answer, 224. Before their heads be writhen off.

1859.  H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, ix. She writhed herself free.

1887.  D. C. Murray, One Trav. Returns, xvii. Writhing the water from their auburn hair.

  fig.  c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 11616. But god … wrangis in his wrathe writhis to ground.

1570.  Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 2), I. 5/2. Here the Bishops began first to writhe out theyr elections and theyr neckes a litle from the Emperours subiection.

  † b.  To insert (something) in or into a space by insinuation or twisting. Also transf. and refl. Obs.

1590.  Barrough, Meth. Physick, I. xliv. (1596), 67. You may writh a linnen cloth … in the nosthrils.

1593.  Nashe, Christ’s T., G 2 b. This desolatiue-Trumpet of Ierusalem; a weake breath or two I will writhe into it.

1598.  B. Jonson, Every Man in Humour, III. v. He had so writhen himselfe, into the habit of one of your poore Infanterie.

  † 7.  To wrest, strain or pervert the meaning of (a writing, passage, word, etc.); to deflect, misapply; = WRENCH v. 7, WREST v. 5, 6, WRING v. 9 b. Obs.

  In frequent use from c. 1555 to c. 1600.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), Hh iv. They haue … writhen and enlarged the discipline of Justyce.

1546.  Gardiner, Declar. Joye, 43. The pelagians … searched out places of scripture, and writhed them violently … to their purpose.

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Torqueo, To wreste & writhe the law.

1624.  Bedell, Lett., vi. 106. The Ladies Psalter, wherein that which is spoken of God by the Spirit of God is writhed to her.

1662.  Hibbert, Body Divinity, I. 199. Wresting and writhing mens writings to another meaning.

  † b.  To misinterpret (a writer); = WREST v. 5 c.

1555.  [see WREST v. 5 c].

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. xiv. 47. Stephen and Paule…, howe soeuer they be writhed, yet must … so be vnderstanded.

  II.  † 8. To envelop, enfold or swathe (something) by winding or folding. Obs.

a. 1000.  Egbert’s Penit., III. xvi. in Thorpe, Laws, II. 202. Þa ðe forbrocene wæron, þa ʓe ne wriþon [L. ligavistis].

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke x. 34. Þa ʓenealæhte he, & wrað his wunda.

c. 1205.  Lay., 17762. Wreoð nu wel þene king Þæt he ligge a swæting.

c. 1366.  Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 160. Hir heed writhen was … with a greet towayle.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XII. v. (Bodl. MS.). Been … makeþ honye combesse ywounde and ywrithe wiþ waxe.

a. 1400–50.  Bk. Curtasye, 685, in Babees Bk. Þen brede he brynges, in towelle wrythyn.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 534/1. Wrythyn, idem quod hyllyn.

  † b.  To confine or fasten with a cord, bond, etc.; to bind, fetter. Obs.

Beowulf, 964. Ic hine hrædlice heardan clammum on wælbedde wriþan þohte.

[c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 123. Crist … ferde to helle and iwrað þene alde deouel.]

c. 1205.  Lay., 17394. Ȝe mote uaste heom wriðen mid strongen sæil-rapen.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., C. 80. Þay … Wryþe me in a warlok, wrast out myn yȝen.

a. 1400.  Prymer (1891), 98. Coordes of synful men ha a bouten writhe me.

  fig.  c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 9088. In hir loue was he so writhen, That he myght not his wille refrayn.

  † c.  To secure or fix (something) with a pin, etc. Obs.^–1

1683.  Pettus, Fleta Min., I. 12. Assay Ovens made … of strong Armor-plate, and writhen with Ironpins.

  19.  To surround or invest with something; to wreathe, enwreathe. Also with about. Obs.

1513.  Douglas, Æneid, V. v. 12. Ane mantill brusit with gold, With purpour selvage writhin mony fold.

a. 1727.  Newton, Chronol. Amended, ii. (1728), 227. A Caduceus writhen about with two serpents.

  III.  intr. 10. To move or stir in a turning or sinuous manner; to change posture by twisting; to twist about.

a. 1300.  in Maps’ Poems (Camden), 336. Thi wretche with [= wit] so thunne, That ay was writhinde as a wond.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5471. Þey … sawe hys coloure ofte ouer caste; And wroth a-boute, to and fro.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1200. Þen he wakenede, & wroth, & to hir warde torned.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 510. For a pene on a day … forth þay gos, Wryþen & worchen & don gret pyne.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 1141. Wrothely thai wrythyne and wrystille to-gederz.

1545.  Ascham, Toxoph. (Arb.), 111. Elles the one ende [of a bow-string] shall wriethe contrary to the other.

1588.  Greene, Pandosto (1843), 26. The babe … wrythed with the head to seeke for the pap.

1611.  Cotgr., Serpeger, to … wrigle, writhe, or goe waiuing, &c., like a serpent.

1809–14.  Wordsw., Excurs., VI. 291. The Indian bird That writhes and chatters in her wiry cage.

1820.  Southey, Lodore, 61. Flying and flinging, Writhing and ringing,… this way the Water comes down at Lodore.

1893.  Mary Cholmondeley, Diana Tempest, II. iii. 70. Colonel Tempest struck a match, lit the paper, and dropped it into the black July grate…. He watched it writhe under the little chuckling flame.

  fig.  c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xiii. 126. This warld fowre neuer so,… Now in weyll, now in wo, And all thyng wrythys.

  b.  To contort the body, limbs, etc., as from agony, emotion or stimulation; to twist under or with pain, distress, etc.; to wring, turn. Also with about.

  In frequent use from c. 1800.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 1920. Thane the worthy kynge [Arthur] wrythes, and wepede with his eghne.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 1189 (Ashm. MS.). Þe wale kyng … writhis him vnfaire [Dubl. MS. wex wode wroth]. Ibid., 1409.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Chron., VIII. xi. 1776. Al brym he belyt in to brethe, And wrythit al in wedand wrethe.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, I. cxxxvi. 242. Beaumayns … walowed and wrythed for the loue of the lady.

1713.  Addison, Cato, III. v. Let them … be … empal’d, and left To writhe at leisure round the bloody stake.

1798.  S. & Ht. Lee, Canterb. T., II. 431. [She was] writhing under the wound.

1823.  J. Edmeston, The Martyr, 17, in Sacred Lyrics, III. 57.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, xiii. Mr. Brass, after writhing about,… was by this time awake also.

1890.  W. Booth, In Darkest Eng., 280. Look at that dark ocean, full of human wrecks, writhing in anguish and despair.

  fig.  1846.  Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. iii. 74. His heart writhing with hatred.

1893.  Mary Cholmondeley, Diana Tempest, III. vii. 123. Passion, writhing in torment, rose gigantic without warning and seized him in a Titan grip.

  c.  poet. To twine or coil (round something).

1795.  Southey, Joan of Arc, III. (1853), 33. I saw The pictured flames writhe round a penanced soul.

  11.  To change place or position, to tum, move, or go, with a writhing or twisting motion. Usu. with preps., as about, down, from, † of, to, up, or advs., as apart, away, back, out.

c. 1205.  Lay., 6729. Þe king … him wræð [c. 1275 leop] to, ase he hine wolde anho.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., A. 350. Of þe way a fote ne wyl he wryþe. Ibid., B. 533. Wylde wormez to her won wryþez in þe erþe.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 1093. Ilke wrethe as a wolfe-heuede, it wraythe owtt at ones!

14[?].  Chaucer’s Miller’s T., 97 (Camb. MS.). With here hed sche wrythed faste a-wey.

c. 1440.  Ipomydon, 1835. Thus he wrawled & wroth a-way.

1540.  Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom., I. xii. 122. Whan thou wrythyest awaye from thy steppe chyldren, callynge the mother.

1565.  Golding, Ovid’s Met., I. (1593), 18. He proffered kisses too the tree, the tree did from him wryth.

1849.  Lytton, K. Arthur, XI. clii. Struggling for speech, the pale lips writhed apart.

1859.  Tennyson, Merlin & V., 237. Vivien … Writhed toward him, slided up his knee [etc.].

1891.  F. Tennyson, Poems, 369. Snakes writhed to their holes.

  b.  fig. and in fig. context.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, IV. 986. If ther myght ben a variaunce, To wrythen out fro goddes purueynge.

1402.  Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 90. Thei ben bastard braunches that … writhyn wrongli away from holy chirche techinge.

a. 1425.  Cursor M., 4276 (Trin.). At þe ende wol priue loue out wriþe.

c. 1425.  Wyntoun, Chron., I. ix. 621. Fra his will quhen þat we writh.

1560.  Becon, New Catech., III. Wks. 1564, I. 337 b. He writhed with his hande from doyinge wrong.

1601.  [see WREATHE v. 8].

  † c.  To turn, be converted, to something. Obs.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 130. To many maner synnes hyt [sc. handling] wryþys.

13[?].  St. Alexius, 571, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 187. His wife kome þan … wiþ rewfull grate Als scho wald all to watir writhe.