wreathen, ppl. a.
(riːð(ə)n)
Also 4–6 wrethen, 5 -yne, -in, (?) wrethe.
[ME. wrēðen, normal variant of wrĭðen, pa. pple. of wrīðen writhe v. Cf. writhen ppl. a.]
1. = wreathed ppl. a. 1.
| α a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 5526 All þe watir of þe werd [to him seemed] bot as a wrethen neddire. 1401–2 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 393, vj libr. de wrethyn candell, xs. a 1450 Songs & Carols 15th C. (Warton Club) 85 My baselard haȝt a wrethin hafte. 1465 Will of Pachett (Somerset Ho.), A wrethyne rynge of golde. c 1530 in Gutch Coll. Cur. II. 310 Great gilte Candilsteks costid withe wrethin shanks. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII, 207 b, Veluet..fret with flowers of Siluer, and small twigges of wrethen worke. a 1600 Montgomerie Misc. Poems iv. 5 Mercure with his wrethin wand. 1887 Suppl. Jamieson 280 Wrethin' strae-rapes. |
| β 1568 Bible (Bishops') Exod. xxviii. 22 Chaynes of pure golde and wreathen worke. 1598 Deloney Jacke Newb. i. Wks. (1912) 7 The Bel-weather..by the force of his wreathen hornes..slew him. 1608 Topsell Serpents 245 Many..are the Epithets which are giuen to Snakes,..as..Gorgonean, wreathen, slyding. 1611 Bible Exod. xxviii. 14 Thou shalt make..two chaines of pure gold..; of wreathen worke shalt thou make them. 1792 Mass. Mag. Nov., Imagination very easily giving them [sc. stalactites] pedestals and chapiters, and even wreathen-work. 1871 J. Hay Pike County Ball. (1880) 154 Wreathen amulet Forged against sword-stroke. 1872 Ruskin Aratra Pentelici 51 The wreathen work of its doors,..the foliage of its capitals. 1875 ― Fors Clav. lviii. 288 The pierced fractional coins will only bear a chased wreathen fillet. 1877 Blackmore Erema li, The glorious woods of wreathen gold..all were mine. |
| Comb. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) III. 566 Wreathen-podded Whitlowgrass. [Grows in] Fissures of limestone rocks. |
2. Formed or arranged by or as by twining or interweaving; entwined, intertwined.
| 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. vi. ix. §21. 81 Their Oratory, built onely of wrethen wands. 1631 Weever Anc. Funeral Mon. 58 To build a Church or Oratorie of wreathen wands. 1713 C'tess of Winchilsea Misc. Poems 39 The Flowers..In wreathen Garlands dropt agen On Lucullus. a 1850 in Mrs. Jameson Leg. Monast. Orders (1852) 45 A church of wreathen wands. |