Category:Writhe

Writhe, v. t. [imp. Writhed; p. p. Writhed, obs. or poetic writhen (P. pr. & vb. n. Writhing.] Etym: [oe. writhen, as. wri to twist; akin To ohg. ridan, icel. ri, sw. vrida, dan. vride. Cf. Wreathe, wrest, Wroth.]

1. To twist; to turn; now, usually, to twist or turn so as to Distort; to wring. "with writhing [turning] of a pin." Chaucer. Then satan first knew pain, and writhed him to and fro. Milton. Her mouth she writhed, her forehead taught to frown. Dryden. His battle-writhen arms, and mighty hands. Tennyson.

2. To wrest; to distort; to pervert. The reason which he yieldeth showeth the least part of his meaning to Be that whereunto his words are writhed. Hooker.

3. To extort; to wring; to wrest. [r.] The nobility hesitated not to follow the example of their sovereign In writhing money from them by every species of oppression. Sir w. Scott.

Writhe Writhe, v. i.

Defn: to twist or contort the body; to be distorted; as, to writhe With agony. Also used figuratively. After every attempt, he felt that he had failed, and writhed with Shame and vexation. Macaulay.