3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wreath  \Wreath\  (?;  277),  n.;  pl  {Wreaths}.  [OE.  wrethe,  AS 
  wr[=ae][eth]  a  twisted  band,  fr  wr[=i][eth]an  to  twist.  See 
  {Writhe}.] 
  1.  Something  twisted,  intertwined,  or  curled;  as  a  wreath  of 
  smoke;  a  wreath  of  flowers.  ``A  wrethe  of  gold.'' 
  --Chaucer. 
 
  [He]  of  his  tortuous  train  Curled  many  a  wanton 
  wreath.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  A  garland;  a  chaplet,  esp.  one  given  to  a  victor. 
 
  Conquest  doth  grant  He  dear  wreath  to  the  Grecian 
  combatant.  --Chapman. 
 
  Far  back  in  the  ages,  The  plow  with  wreaths  was 
  crowned.  --Bryant. 
 
  3.  (Her.)  An  appendage  to  the  shield,  placed  above  it  and 
  supporting  the  crest  (see  Illust.  of  {Crest}).  It 
  generally  represents  a  twist  of  two  cords  of  silk,  one 
  tinctured  like  the  principal  metal,  the  other  like  the 
  principal  color  in  the  arms. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Wreathe  \Wreathe\,  v.  t.  [imp.  {Wreathed};  p.  p.  {Wreathed}; 
  Archaic  {Wreathen};  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Wreathing}.]  [See 
  {Wreath},  n.]  [Written  also  {wreath}.] 
  1.  To  cause  to  revolve  or  writhe;  to  twist  about  to  turn. 
  [Obs.] 
 
  And  from  so  heavy  sight  his  head  did  wreathe. 
  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  To  twist;  to  convolve;  to  wind  one  about  another;  to 
  entwine. 
 
  The  nods  and  smiles  of  recognition  into  which  this 
  singular  physiognomy  was  wreathed.  --Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
 
  From  his  slack  hand  the  garland  wreathed  for  Eve 
  Down  dropped.  --Milton. 
 
  3.  To  surround  with  anything  twisted  or  convolved;  to 
  encircle;  to  infold. 
 
  Each  wreathed  in  the  other's  arms.  --Shak. 
 
  Dusk  faces  with  withe  silken  turbants  wreathed. 
  --Milton. 
 
  And  with  thy  winding  ivy  wreathes  her  lance. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  4.  To  twine  or  twist  about  to  surround;  to  encircle. 
 
  In  the  flowers  that  wreathe  the  sparkling  bowl,  Fell 
  adders  hiss.  --Prior. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  wreath 
  n  :  a  circular  band  of  foliage  or  flowers  for  ornamental 
  purposes  [syn:  {garland},  {coronal},  {chaplet},  {lei}] 
  v  :  encircle  with  or  as  if  with  a  wreath;  "Her  face  was  wreathed 
  with  blossoms"  [syn:  {wreathe}] 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words