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writhe |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Writhe \Writhe\, v. i. 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Writhe \Writhe\, v. t. [imp. {Writhed}; p. p. {Writhed}, Obs. or Poetic {Writhen}; p. pr & vb n. {Writhing}.] [OE. writhen, AS wr[=i]?an to twist; akin to OHG. r[=i]dan, Icel. r[=i]?a, 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.] From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: writhe v : to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (esp. when struggling); "The prisoner writhed in discomfort." "The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace." [syn: {wrestle}, {wriggle}, {worm}, {squirm}, {twist}]
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