Wrest, rest, v.t, to twist from by force: to twist from truth or from its natural meaning.—n. violent pulling and twisting: distortion: an instrument, like a wrench, for tuning the piano, &c.—n. Wrest′er. [A.S. wrǽstan—wrǽst, firm, from wráth, pa.t. of wríthan, to writhe; Dan. vriste.]
Wrestle, res′l, v.i. to contend by grappling and trying to throw the other down: to struggle: to apply one's self keenly to: (Scot.) to pray earnestly.—v.t. to contend with in wrestling.—n. a bout at wrestling: a struggle between two to throw each other down.—ns. Wrest′ler; Wrest′ling, the sport or exercise of two persons struggling to throw each other to the ground in an athletic contest governed by certain fixed rules—catch-hold, ground-wrestling, catch-as-catch-can, back-hold, &c. [A.S. wrǽstlian; a freq. of wrǽstan, to wrest.]
Wretch, rech, n. a most miserable person: one sunk in vice: a worthless person: body, creature (in pity, sometimes admiration).—adj. Wretch′ed, very miserable: distressingly bad: despicable: worthless.—adv. Wretch′edly.—n. Wretch′edness. [A.S. wrecca, an outcast—wræc, pa.t. of wrecan, to drive.]
Wrethe, rēth, v.t. and v.i. (Spens.). Same as Wreathe.
Wrick, rik, v.t. (prov.) to twist, turn. [Low Ger. wrikken, to turn.]
Wriggle, rig′l, v.i. to twist to and fro: to move sinuously: to use crooked means.—v.t. to cause to wriggle.—n. the motion of wriggling.—ns. Wrigg′ler, one who wriggles: one who uses trickery; Wrigg′ling;. [A freq. of obs. wrig, to move about, itself a variant of wrick, M. E. wrikken, to twist; cf. Dut. wriggelen, to wriggle.]
Wright, rīt, n. a maker (chiefly used in compounds, as ship-wright, &c.). [A.S. wyrhta—wyrht, a work—wyrcan, to work.]
Wring, ring, v.t. to twist: to force, or force out, by twisting: to force or compress: to pain: to extort: to bend out of its position.—v.i. to writhe: to twist:—pa.t. and pa.p. wrung, (B.) wringed.—ns. Wring′-bolt, a bolt with a ring or eye, used to secure a ship's planks against the frame till they are permanently fixed in place; Wring′er, one who wrings: a machine for forcing water from wet clothes—also Wring′ing-machine′.—adj. Wring′ing-wet, so wet that water can be wrung out.—n.pl. Wring′-staves, strong pieces of wood used in applying wring-bolts.—Wring from, to extort; Wring off, to force off by wringing; Wring out, to squeeze out by twisting; Wring the hands, to manifest grief by convulsive clasping of the hands. [A.S. wringan, to twist; Dut. wringen, Ger. ringen. Cf. Wreak, Wry.]
Wrinkle, ring′kl, n. (coll.) a tip, valuable hint. [Perh. from A.S. wrenc, a trick. Cf. Wrench.]
Wrinkle, ring′kl, n. a small ridge on a surface caused by twisting or shrinking: unevenness.—v.t. to contract into wrinkles or furrows: to make rough.—v.i. to shrink into ridges.—adj. Wrink′ly, full of wrinkles: liable to be wrinkled. [M. E. wrinkel, conn. with A.S. wringan, to twist; prob. related to Sw. rynka, Dan. rynke, a wrinkle.]