▪ I. writhe, n.
(raɪð)
Also 6–7 wrythe.
[f. next. Cf. wreath n., and OHG. rida ‘tensio’.]
† 1. Something twisted, wreathed, or formed into a circular shape; a twisted band; a wreath. Obs.
| 1513 Douglas æneid v. x. 25 The writhe of gold, or chane lowpit in ringis. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Luke vii. 74 To brede [her hair] with wrythes of golde enterlaced emong it. 1569 T. Underdown Heliodorus ix. 127 [Each] hathe a round Wrythe vpon his head, in which their Arrowes are set in order. |
† b. (See quot. and cf. writhe.) Obs.—0
| 1552 Huloet, Wrythes, or any thing that may be wrythed about like a willow or osier, vitilia, ium. |
c. A curled or twisted formation; a wreath or twist.
| 1857 Ruskin Arrows of Chace (1880) I. 219 The castle sate its rock as a strong rider sits his horse,—fitting its limbs to every writhe of the flint beneath it. 1874 R. Tyrwhitt Sketching Club 164 The writhe in his mustache. |
2. An act of writhing; a twisting or writhing movement of the body, countenance, etc.; a contortion.
| 1611 Cotgr., Torse,..a wrest, wrinch; wrythe. 1767 S. Paterson Another Trav. I. 185 Men who..could watch the excruciating writhes..of others. 1796 Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 29 The head or leading flank..whose writhes and turnings are followed by every other part of the body [of troops]. 1812 Chalmers Biogr. Dict. V. 312 He..expired..without a writhe in his countenance. 1890 R. Broughton Alas! xvi, The silent writhe with which Jim receives this piece of information. |
† b. A twinge of pain, etc. Obs.—1
| 1792 A. Young Trav. France 133, I had some writhes of it [sc. rheumatism] before I entered Champagne. |
3. Degree of tautness; tension. rare—1.
| 1879 Grove's Dict. Mus. I. 135 A body..of parchment, strained upon a hoop to the required writhe or degree of stiffness for resonance. |
▪ II. writhe, v.1
(raɪð)
Forms: 1 wriðan, 3 wriðen, 4 wryþen, 4–5 wrythen, 5 wrythyn, writhyn; 4–5 wriþe, 4– writhe (6 wriethe), 4–7 writh (6 wrieth); 4–5 wryþe, 4–7 wrythe, wryth. pa. tense 1 wraþ, 3 wræð, 5 wraythe, wrathe; 3 wreoð, 4–5 wroþ, wroth, 5 wrothe, wrooth. pl. 1 wriþon, 2 uurythen, 3 wryþen, 4 writhen (7 writhe), 5–6 wrythen (6 wrethen). pa. pple. 1 ᵹewriðen, 3 ywriðen, 4–5 iwriþen, ywrithen, ywryþe, y-, iwrithe; 1, 4 wriþen, 4– writhen (4 -un, 5 -yn, 6 -in), 5–7 wrythen (5 -yn); 4 writhe, 5 wrythe; 4 wreþen, 4–6 wrethen (5 -yn), 5 ywrethe; 6 wrothonne. weak pa. tense and pa. pple. 5– writhed, 4–6 wrythed.
[OE. wr{iacu}ðan strong v. (pa. tense wráþ, pl. wriðon; pa. pple. ᵹewriðen), also ᵹewr{iacu}ðan, = OFris. *wrîða (NFris. wriir, wrial), OHG. rîdan (in ga-, kirîdan; MHG. rîden), ON. r{iacu}ða, MSw. vriþa (Sw. vrida), MDa. and Da. vride, related to wriða wreath. Cf. wreathe v.
The northern ME. pa. tense wraythe may represent ON. *wreið pa. tense of *wriða (later riða).]
I. trans.
1. To twist or coil (something); to fashion into coils or folds; to dispose or arrange in a coiled or sinuous form; to bend or distort by twisting. Freq. with about, over, round preps., up adv. Also refl.
| c 1000 ælfric Gram. xxvi. (Z.) 155 Torqueo, ic wriðe. 1154 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1137, Me dide cnotted stranges abuton here hæued & uurythen to ðæt it ᵹæde to þe hærnes. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. vi. 9 He bar a bordun i-bounde wiþ a brod lyste, In a weþe-bondes wyse i⁓wriþen aboute. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 278 A ȝerde mai growe so greet..þat men shal not wriþe it. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 118 Writhe not the hed of thy sarment. a 1450 Knt. de La Tour (1868) 21 He writhed a litell wipse of strawe. c 1460 [see wrapper n. 1]. a 1500 Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510) A ij b, A grene wand..may be wrethen whyle it is grene. 1568 Turner Herbal ii. 128 The floures grew very thyck together as they were writhen about the stalcke. 1614 D. Dyke Myst. Selfe-Deceiuing (1630) 279 Correcting the crookedness of a twig hee writhes it too much the other way. 1635 J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Banish'd Virg. 149 Never was there..serpent wrythen up so suddenly. 1643 in Sir J. Temple Irish Rebell. (1646) 117 They would take and writh wyths about their heads. 1658 tr. Porta's Nat. Magic i. viii. 12 The pulse called Lupines, still looks after the Sun, that it may not writhe his stalk. 1745 tr. Columella's Husb. iii. xviii, Twisting and writhing the head of a shoot. ? c 1745 Shenstone Elegies xx. 39 Here the dry dipsa writhes his sinuous mail. 1827 Pollok Course T. v. 597 The Worm..writhing its folds In hideous sort. 1832 Motherwell Poems 45 This leafless tree, That's writhen o'er the linn. 1866 C. Rossetti Prince's Progr. 6 Who twisted her hair..And writhed it shining in serpent-coils. 1901 S. Weyman Ct. Hannibal vi, The tiring-maid..flung herself..at Mademoiselle's knees,..writhing herself about them. |
† b. To force in wreaths. Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. i. met. iv. 7 (Camb. MS.), Veseuus..writ[h]ith [L. torquet] owtthorw his brokene chymynees smokynge fyres. |
c. To change or fashion into († to) some form, etc., by wreathing or twisting.
| 1582 Mulcaster Elementarie i. (1925) 25 If the pliable mind be vnwiselie writhen to a disfigured shape. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xxxiv, Their countenances seemed fiercely writhen into the wildest expression of pride. 1851 Ruskin Stones Ven. I. i. §26 The Arab..points the arch and writhes it into extravagant foliations. 1879 Symonds Sk. Italy & Greece (ed. 2) 291 Snow lies..writhed into loveliest wreaths. |
† 2. To unite, combine, or make compact, by twisting, entwining, or interweaving; to join with something, twine together; to intertwine. Freq. with together. Obs.
| c 1205 Lay. 25974 Þat weore twælf swine..mid wiðen..y-wriðen al to-gadere. 1388 Wyclif Judges xvi. 9 As if a man brekith a threed of herdis, writhun with spotle. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. cl. (Bodl. MS.), Al schrubbes and treen wiþ prickes..beþ ywounde and ywrethe togedres, and biclippiþ..euriche oþer. a 1400–50 Bk. Curtasye 440 in Babees Bk. 313 Litere..Wele watered, i-wrythen, be craft y-trode. Ibid. 442 Wyspes..Wele wrethyn and turnyd a-ȝayne þat tyde. c 1425 Seven Sag. (P.) 1792 The wyf fast hyre keyes wrothe In the end of the borde clothe. a 1500 Flower & Leaf viii, The hegge also..With sicamour was set and eglantere, Writhen in-fere so wel. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Nerui tortiles,..stringes writhed together. 1600 Surflet Countrie Farme i. xiii. 86 Let them rub them..with a wispe of strawe harde writhen together. 1654 Whitelocke Jrnl. Swed. Emb. (1772) I. 179 Their stirrup [is] a withe writhed togither. 1671 J. Webster Metallogr. xiii. 209 Thick truncks, which were writhen variously amongst themselves. |
† 3. To form or fashion (a wreath, etc.) by plaiting, entwining, or twisting; to plait. Also with together. Obs.
| c 1275 [see wrase 1]. 1388 Wyclif John xix. 2 Kniȝtis writhen a coroun of thornes. c 1450 Mirk's Festial i. 121 Þay wrythen a crowne of þornys and setten on his hed. 1520 Treat. Galaunt 191 Theyr typpettes be wrythen lyke to a chayne. c 1550 Cheke Matt. xxvii. 29 Writhing together a crown of thistels. 1563 Shute Archit. D iv b, The other Astragalus..shalbe wrothonne like a wreath. |
† 4. To turn or wrench round or to a side; to twist about; to wring. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 3462 Þair strut it was vn-stern stith, Wit wrathli wrestes aiþer writh. 1388 Wyclif Lev. i. 15 Whanne the heed is writhun to the necke. 1513 Douglas æneid i. iii. 19 Ane blusterand bub..The schippis stewyn frawart hir went can writhe. 1584 Bedingfield tr. Corte's Art Riding 101 An angrie horsse..that dooth wryth his head from one side to the other. 1607 Markham Cavel. ii. (1617) 80 To carrie your cudgell in his eye of that side which he most writheth. 1697 Dryden æneis x. 448 æneas writh'd his Dart, and stopp'd his bawling Breath. 1713 Steele Englishm. No. 1. 5 There may be a Way of appearing Wise by writhing the Head. |
| fig. and in fig. context. 1513 Douglas æneid iv. xi. 95 Hir faynt spreit in all partis writhis [L. versabat] sche. a 1547 Surrey æneid iv. 282 [He] writhed his loke toward the royal walls. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 141 A yoong wench hath him sure enough by the necke, and doth writhe him which way she list! 1684 H. More Answer Pref. b j b, The Remarker..has writhen and forced his Wit and Invention to personate [etc.]. |
† b. fig. To divert or deflect from or to a person, course, etc.; to cause to turn away, bend, or incline towards another. Cf. wrench v. 4 b.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 15569 For þai wald writ [vrr. writh, wriþe] on me..al þair aun wijt. Ibid. 28101. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxxi. (Eugenia) 361 Þar-for scho thocht wele to wricht [read writhe] in hyme hir wikitnes alsuyth. Ibid. xlii. (Agatha) 97 For to wryth agathis wil fra cryst. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. 2011 Whan þat he his aspectis glade Fro a man listeth for to writhe. 1534 Whitinton Tullyes Offices ii. (1540) 87 Pleasures fayre..ofte tymes wrythe the bygger partes of the soule fro vertue. 1561 Norton & Sackv. Gorboduc i. ii, Lest the fraude..Of flattering tongues..wrythe them to the wayes of youthfull lust. 1642 Chas. I Let. to Mayor of Bristol 2 The rebellious instigation..to writhe and bend your inclinations to oppose Me. 1655 [see wrench v. 6 c]. |
† c. With advs., as about, aside, away, back. Occas. fig. and in fig. context. Obs.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 4359 Fortune..can writhe hir heed awey. c 1480 Henryson Bludy Serk 107 Sa suld we wryth all syn away. c 1550 H. Lloyd Treas. Health A j, If the eyes be wrythen asyde. a 1564 Becon Treat. Fasting iv, To wryth his head about lyke an hope. 1609 Bible (Douay) Lev. v. 8 He..shal wryth backe the heade therof. |
5. To subject (the body, limbs, etc.) to a contorting or twisting movement; to twist, contort; to wring or wreathe. Also with advs., as around, round, together, up, and absol.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. vii. 66 He wroth hus fust vp-on wratthe. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. vi. xviii. 1975 Þan spak Makbeth dispytusly,..Lyk al wrethyn [v.r. wrythin] in his skyn. c 1450 Ludus Coventriæ 28 Wrythe on to my necke bon with hardnesse of þin honde. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Torqueo, To writhe one's necke. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Constancie vii, He..Whom nothing can procure..To writhe his limbes. 1691 Baxter Certainty Worlds Spirits 166 Some Reapers..were hurt, writhen, and one killed with a Whirlwind. 1711 Budgell Spect. No. 161 ¶3 A Country Girl..writhing and distorting her whole Body. 1791 E. Darwin Bot. Gard. i. 75 The alarmed Goddess..Writhes her fair limbs. 1814 W. Brown Hist. Propag. Chr. II. 434 In the fall, his hip was writhed. 1865 B. Brierley Irkdale I. 143 Aw'll wrythe thy neck reawnd. 1884 Pall Mall G. 14 March 1/1 The Arabs..writhed their bodies under guns, Gatlings, and muskets. |
| refl. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 328 Then Satan first knew pain, And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles vi. xxxii, The mountaineer Yet writhed him up against the spear. 1895 Crockett Men of Moss-hags xxiii. 169 The creature writhed himself in glee. |
b. To distort (the face, etc.); to draw awry; = wring v. 2 b.
| c 1480 Henryson Test. Cres. 189 The God of Ire..Wrything his face with mony angrie word. 1545 R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 145 Some make a face with writhing theyr mouthe. 1548 Elyot, Intorquere mentum, to writhe or wreste the chynne. 1609 Bible (Douay) Prov. xix. 1 Better is a poore man..then a rich writhing his lippes. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 569 They..writh'd thir jaws. 1755 Johnson, Distortion,..irregular motion by which the face is writhed. 1864 Tennyson Boadicea 74 [They] Madly dash'd the darts together, writhing barbarous lineaments. |
c. To utter, speak out, with a writhe.
| 1889 Gunter That Frenchman xxi. 290, As they drag her back..she writhes out to Ora..: ‘They'll do the same to you’. 1902 J. C. Snaith Wayfarers xii, Sir Thomas would grunt and wriggle and writhe his tipsy protests. |
d. To make or pursue (its way) by writhing.
| 1867 J. G. Wood Illustr. Nat. Hist. 326 The snake which has writhed its way to the Mocking Bird's nest. |
6. To twist or wrench (something) out of place, position, or relation; = wring v. 6. Const. with advs., as asunder, † atwo, off, out, or preps., as from, off, out of. Also refl. Occas. fig.
| 1388 Wyclif 2 Sam. xxiii. 21 Bi miȝt he wrooth out the spere fro the hond of the man. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 271 He his necke hath writhe atuo. c 1420 Liber Cocorum (1862) 48 Sethe þy capone,..brisse hom in hast And wrythe itwen. 1490 Caxton Eneydos x. 39 There myghte ye see..crampons of yron wrythen a sondre. 1554–9 Songs & Ball. Phil. & Mary (Roxb.) 12, I wolde God in sondare I myght wrythe his necke boune. ? a 1600 in Child Ballads III. 413/34 Then he writhe the gold ring of his ffingar. 1606 Marston Parasit. v. H 4 b, Cupid.., Whose force writh'd lightning from Ioues shaking hand. 1684 H. More Answer 224 Before their heads be writhen off. 1859 H. Kingsley G. Hamlyn ix, She writhed herself free. 1887 D. C. Murray One Trav. Returns xvii, Writhing the water from their auburn hair. |
| fig. c 1400 Destr. Troy 11616 But god..wrangis in his wrathe writhis to ground. 1570 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 2) I. 5/2 Here the Bishops began first to writhe out theyr elections and theyr neckes a litle from the Emperours subiection. |
† b. To insert (something) in or into a space by insinuation or twisting. Also transf. and refl. Obs.
| 1590 P. Barrough Meth. Physick i. xliv. (1596) 67 You may writh a linnen cloth..in the nosthrils. 1593 Nashe Christ's T. G 2 b, This desolatiue-Trumpet of Ierusalem; a weake breath or two I will writhe into it. 1598 B. Jonson Every Man in Humour iii. v, He had so writhen himselfe, into the habit of one of your poore Infanterie. |
† 7. To wrest, strain, or pervert the meaning of (a writing, passage, word, etc.); to deflect, misapply; = wrench v. 7, wrest v. 5, 6, wring v. 9 b. Obs.
In frequent use from c 1555 to c 1600.
| a 1533 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) Hh iv, They haue..writhen and enlarged the discipline of Justyce. 1546 Gardiner Declar. Joye 43 The pelagians..searched out places of scripture, and writhed them violently..to their purpose. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Torqueo, To wreste & writhe the law. 1624 Bedell Lett. vi. 106 The Ladies Psalter, wherein that which is spoken of God by the Spirit of God is writhed to her. 1662 Hibbert Body Divinity i. 199 Wresting and writhing mens writings to another meaning. |
† b. To misinterpret (a writer); = wrest v. 5 c.
| 1555 [see wrest v. 5 c]. 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. xiv. 47 Stephen and Paule.., howe soeuer they be writhed, yet must..so be vnderstanded. |
II. † 8. To envelop, enfold, or swathe (something) by winding or folding. Obs.
| a 1000 Egbert's Penit. iii. xvi. in Thorpe Laws II. 202 Þa ðe forbrocene wæron, þa ᵹe ne wriþon [L. ligavistis]. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Luke x. 34 Þa ᵹenealæhte he, & wrað his wunda. c 1205 Lay. 17762 Wreoð nu wel þene king Þæt he ligge a swæting. c 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 160 Hir heed writhen was..with a greet towayle. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xii. v. (Bodl. MS.), Been..makeþ honye combesse ywounde and ywrithe wiþ waxe. a 1400–50 Bk. Curtasye 685 in Babees Bk., Þen brede he brynges, in towelle wrythyn. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 534/1 Wrythyn, idem quod hyllyn. |
† b. To confine or fasten with a cord, bond, etc.; to bind, fetter. Obs.
| Beowulf 964 Ic hine hrædlice heardan clammum on wæl⁓bedde wriþan þohte. [c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 123 Crist..ferde to helle and iwrað þene alde deouel.] c 1205 Lay. 17394 Ȝe mote uaste heom wriðen mid strongen sæil-rapen. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 80 Þay..Wryþe me in a warlok, wrast out myn yȝen. a 1400 Prymer (1891) 98 Coordes of synful men ha a bouten writhe me. |
| fig. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 9088 In hir loue was he so writhen, That he myght not his wille refrayn. |
† c. To secure or fix (something) with a pin, etc. Obs.—1
| 1683 Pettus Fleta Min. i. 12 Assay Ovens made..of strong Armor-plate, and writhen with Ironpins. |
† 9. To surround or invest with something; to wreathe, enwreathe. Also with about. Obs.
| 1513 Douglas æneid v. v. 12 Ane mantill brusit with gold, With purpour selvage writhin mony fold. a 1727 Newton Chronol. Amended ii. (1728) 227 A Caduceus writhen about with two serpents. |
III. intr.
10. To move or stir in a turning or sinuous manner; to change posture by twisting; to twist about.
| a 1300 in Maps' Poems (Camden) 336 Thi wretche with [= wit] so thunne, That ay was writhinde as a wond. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 5471 Þey..sawe hys coloure ofte ouer caste; And wroth a-boute, to and fro. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1200 Þen he wakenede, & wroth, & to hir warde torned. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 510 For a pene on a day..forth þay gos, Wryþen & worchen & don gret pyne. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1141 Wrothely thai wrythyne and wrystille to-gederz. 1545 R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 111 Elles the one ende [of a bow-string] shall wriethe contrary to the other. 1588 Greene Pandosto (1843) 26 The babe..wrythed with the head to seeke for the pap. 1611 Cotgr., Serpeger, to..wrigle, writhe, or goe waiuing, &c., like a serpent. 1809–14 Wordsw. Excurs. vi. 291 The Indian bird That writhes and chatters in her wiry cage. 1820 Southey Lodore 61 Flying and flinging, Writhing and ringing,..this way the Water comes down at Lodore. 1893 M. Cholmondeley Diana Tempest xvi, [He] lit the paper, and..watched it writhe under the little chuckling flame. |
| fig. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 126 This warld fowre neuer so,..Now in weyll, now in wo, And all thyng wrythys. |
b. To contort the body, limbs, etc., as from agony, emotion, or stimulation; to twist under or with pain, distress, etc.; to wring, turn. Also with about.
In frequent use from c 1800.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1920 Thane the worthy kynge [Arthur] wrythes, and wepede with his eghne. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 1189 (Ashm. MS.), Þe wale kyng..writhis him vnfaire [Dubl. MS. wex wode wroth]. Ibid. 1409. c 1425 Wyntoun Chron. viii. xi. 1776 Al brym he belyt in to brethe, And wrythit al in wedand wrethe. 1470–85 Malory Arthur i. cxxxvi. 242 Beaumayns..walowed and wrythed for the loue of the lady. 1713 Addison Cato iii. v, Let them..be..empal'd, and left To writhe at leisure round the bloody stake. 1798 S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 431 [She was] writhing under the wound. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xiii, Mr. Brass, after writhing about,..was by this time awake also. 1848 J. Edmeston Sacred Poetry 171 Though the nerves may writhe with pain. 1890 W. Booth In Darkest Eng. 280 That dark ocean, full of human wrecks, writhing in anguish. |
| fig. 1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. iii. 74 His heart writhing with hatred. 1893 M. Cholmondeley Diana Tempest xxxiv, Passion, writhing in torment,..seized him in a Titan grip. |
c. poet. To twine or coil (round something).
| 1795 Southey Joan of Arc iii. (1853) 33, I saw The pictured flames writhe round a penanced soul. |
11. To change place or position, to turn, move, or go, with a writhing or twisting motion. Usu. with preps., as about, down, from, † of, to, up, or advs., as apart, away, back, out.
| c 1205 Lay. 6729 Þe king..him wræð [c 1275 leop] to, ase he hine wolde anho. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 350 Of þe way a fote ne wyl he wryþe. Ibid. B. 533 Wylde wormez to her won wryþez in þe erþe. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1093 Ilke wrethe as a wolfe-heuede, it wraythe owtt at ones! 14.. Chaucer's Miller's T. 97 (Camb. MS.), With here hed sche wrythed faste a-wey. c 1440 Ipomydon 1835 Thus he wrawled & wroth a-way. 1540 R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Introd. Chr. Wom. ii. xii. 122 Whan thou wrythest awaye from thy steppe chyldren, callynge the mother. 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. i. (1593) 18 He proffered kisses too the tree, the tree did from him wryth. 1849 Lytton K. Arthur xi. clii, Struggling for speech, the pale lips writhed apart. 1859 Tennyson Merlin & V. 237 Vivien..Writhed toward him, slided up his knee [etc.]. 1891 F. Tennyson Poems 369 Snakes writhed to their holes. |
b. fig. and in fig. context.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 986 If ther myght ben a variaunce, To wrythen out fro goddes purueynge. 1402 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 90 Thei ben bastard braunches that..writhyn wrongli away from holy chirche techinge. a 1425 Cursor M. 4276 (Trin.), At þe ende wol priue loue out wriþe. c 1425 Wyntoun Chron. i. ix. 621 Fra his will quhen þat we writh. 1560 Becon New Catech. iii. Wks. 1564 I. 337 b, He writhed with his hande from doyinge wrong. 1601 [see wreathe v. 8]. |
† c. To turn, be converted, to something. Obs.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 130 To many maner synnes hyt [sc. handling] wryþys. 13.. St. Alexius 571 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 187 His wife kome þan..wiþ rewfull grate Als scho wald all to watir writhe. |
▪ III. † writhe, v.2 Obs.
[OE. wr{iacu}ðan, wr{iacu}ðian, var. of wr{iacu}dan, wr{iacu}dian: see wride n. and v.]
intr. To sprout, to flourish.
| ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 4322 Latt no wykkyde wede waxe, ne wrythe one this erthe. |