▪ I. wry, n.
(raɪ)
Also 5–6 wrye.
[f. wry v.2 or a.]
† 1. on wry or upon wry, = awry adv. Sc. Obs.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 705 Thair bemys strekit air, Owthir all evin, or on wry. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. lxxiii, To the colde stone my hede on wrye I laid. 1508 Dunbar Flyting 175 (Maitland Fol. MS.), With hingit luik ay wallowand vpone wry. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (Rolls) III. 482 Scho..turnis hir face and luikis vpoune wry. |
2. A twisting or tortuous movement.
| 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farme vii. xxii. 674 The bitch being much lesse than the dogge..may haue some aduantage.., and so in turnes, slips, and wries, may get much ground. 1654 Vilvain Epit. Ess. v. xliii, The Sea flows and ebbs with crooked wry. |
3. Distortion caused by refraction. rare—1.
| 1869 Blackmore Lorna D. vii, You make full sure to prog him [sc. a loach] well, in spite of the wry of the water. |
▪ II. wry, a. and adv.
(raɪ)
Also 6 wrye, 6–7 wrie, 6 wrey.
[f. wry v.2 Cf. prec. and awry adv. and a.]
A. adj.
1. a. Of the features, neck, etc.: Abnormally deflected, bent, or turned to one side; in a contorted state or form; distorted.
| 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xi. 4 b/2 Henry Erle of Lancastre with the wrye necke, called Torte colle. c 1530 Crt. of Love 1162 For they their members lakked, fote and hand, With visage wry and blind. 1542 Elyot, Miriones, men hauynge wry mouthes. a 1613 Overbury Characters, Flatterer, Hee will halt or weare a wrie necke. a 1637 B. Jonson Horace, Art Poet. 52 With faire black eyes and haire, and a wry nose. 1663 Unfort. Usurper i. iii. 6 In wry-neck'd Nero's Court, a wry-neck was the mode. 1705 Lond. Gaz. No. 4097/4 He likewise cures Hair Lips and Wry Necks. 1798 Ferriar Illustr. Sterne, etc. 138 Some of the disqualifications for priest's orders were..wry-noses [etc.]. 1819 Rees' Cycl. XXXVIII. s.v., A remedy for wry-necks. 1860 A. Leighton Trad. Scot. Life 224 The round cheek and wry lip, betokening his love of fun. 1861 Geo. Eliot Silas M. i, Their dreadful stare could dart cramp, or rickets, or a wry mouth at any boy. |
b. Temporarily twisted, contorted, or writhed by reason or in manifestation of disrelish, disgust, or the like. Freq. in the phr. to make (draw, pull) a wry face or mouth (wry faces or mouths).
| 1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence, Eunuch iv. iv, Howe the hangman makes a wrie mouth. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. v. ii, The bitter bob in wit; the Reuerse in face or wry⁓mouth. 1611 [see wry-faced a.]. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 208 Causing..a certain Buffoon..to make wry⁓faces and shew a thousand postures. 1697 Vanbrugh Relapse (1708) Pref., Saints..with screw'd Faces and wry Mouths. 1712 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 17 June, Flap your hand, and make wry mouths yourself. 1760 Sterne Tr. Shandy iii. x, With a wry face..[he] read aloud, as follows. 1782 F. Burney Cecilia v. i, [He] made a wry face, and returned it. 1783 [see wriggling ppl. a. 2]. 1802 Beddoes Hygëia iii. 55 Hardly daring to draw a wry face at any thing offered them. 1839 Dickens Nich. Nick. viii, Making a variety of wry mouths indicative of anything but satisfaction. 1876 R. Broughton Joan i. i, Physic to be quickly swallowed with wry face. 1884 Mrs. C. Praed Zéro xiii, Each guest drank, made a wry face. |
c. Of a smile, etc.: Made with a twisting of the features expressing dislike or distaste; ‘twisted’.
| 1883 D. C. Murray Hearts xxvi, He only shook his head with a wry smile and declined a verbal answer. 1899 E. W. Hornung Dead Men xviii, He turned to me with a wry smile. |
2. a. That has undergone twisting, contortion, or deflexion; wrung out of shape; twisted, crooked, bent.
| 1552 Huloet, Wrye, or disfourmed, or out of fashion, distortus. 1561 Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 6 b, The membre becommeth lame and wrye. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits viii. (1596) 113 Such..men..take dislike at any one wry plait of their garment. a 1613 Overbury Characters Wks. (1890) 50 Her wrie little finger bewraies carving. 1622 R. Preston Godly Man's Inquis. 47 Peter was shent for walking with a wry foote to the Gospell. 1751 F. Coventry Pompey the Little ii. xiii. 241 A wry Plait in the Sleeve of his Shirt. 1851 London Phil. Mag. Feb. 133 The two pairs of planes, into which the wry quadrilateral was divisible. 1880 Meredith Tragic Com. (1881) 79 The timbers of their huts lean to an upright in wry splinters. |
| transf. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Feb. 28 For Age and Winter accord full nie, This chill, that cold; this crooked that wrye. 1776 Da Costa Elem. Conchol. 211 The gutter or beak..bends or falls on the back, in a wry manner. 1895 Pall Mall G. 25 Oct. 5/1 Their chanting in church is so wry that it makes you start. |
b. Deflected from a straight course; inclined or turned to one side. Also in fig. context. wry look, one expressive of displeasure or dislike. So wry twist (of the features).
| 1587 Golding De Mornay xviii. 330, I take to witnesse the happiest Courtiers that are, whether one wrye looke of their Prince do not sting them more at the heart, than [etc.]. 1613 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. ii. 712 As Tavy..among the woods doth wander, Losing himselfe in many a wry meander. 1615–6 Boys Wks. (1630) 183 If he run in wrie-wayes and bye-wayes, the more his labour. 1719 Atterbury Serm. (1734) II. 77 Every wry Step, by which he imagines himself to have declined from the Path of Duty. 1748 Cowper Verses written at Bath 28 Flatt'ning the stubborn clod, till cruel time,..on a wry step, Sever'd the strict cohesion. 1755 Johnson, Contortion,..twist; wry motion; flexure. 1857 Dickens Dorrit i. xxx, Here he..said to the stranger with his wryest twist upon him, ‘Your commands’. 1864 C. Geikie Life in Woods v. 75 My eldest brother..had cast many wry looks at the thick logs. 1872 Gibbon For the King xxii, His features gave a wry twist. |
| fig. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia Wks. 1922 II. 226 Sometimes to her newes of my selfe to tell I go about, but then is all my best Wry words, and stam'ring, or els doltishe dombe. |
3. a. Of words, thoughts, etc.: Contrary to that which is right, fitting, or just; aberrant, wrong; cross, ill-natured.
| 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. ii. iii, He's one, I would not haue a wry thought darted against. 1643–5 Milton Divorce ii. iii, Thus were [they]..wont to thinke, without any wry thoughts cast upon divine governance. 1692 R. L'Estrange Josephus, Antiq. viii. v. (1733) 220 All this together, might have aton'd for a wry word or two. 1759 Sterne Tr. Shandy i. iv, Which strange combination of ideas..produced more wry actions than all other sources of prejudice. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xv, Art thou not a hasty coxcomb, to pick up a wry word so wrathfully? 1856 G. H. Boker Betrothal i. i, Why this argument? I have heard ten thousand,..yet never Knew one wry notion straightened by them all. 1886 Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. cxxxiii. Introd., In this psalm there is no wry word. |
† b. Of persons: Perverse, cross. Obs.—1
| 1649 Roberts Clavis Bibl. 190 With pure, thy self-thou-pure-wilt-show; And with the froward, wilt-be-wry. |
c. Wrested; perverted; distorted.
| 1663 Butler Hud. i. ii. 431 He was..Next Rectifier of wry Law. a 1732 Atterbury (J.), He mangles and puts a wry sense upon protestant writers. 1896 Mrs. Caffyn Quaker Grandmother 290 Poor boy, he meant, what seemed to his wry mind, honestly towards you! |
4. Marked or characterized by perversion, unfairness, or injustice.
| 1561 Norton & Sackv. Gorboduc i. i, My lordes, be playne, without all wrie respect Or poysonous craft to speake in pleasyng wise. 1593 Queen Elizabeth Boeth. iv. pr. v. 89 When cheefely geayle, lawe & other tormentes..be turnd in wry sorte, & wickedest payne doo presse good men. 1851 Gladstone Glean. (1879) VI. xlii. 29 By influence individuals of a class will be powerful here and there, under any system, however cross and wry. |
B. adv. In an oblique manner, course, or direction; awry.
| 1575 A. Fleming Virg. Bucol. iv. 12 Vnto thee, O childe, y⊇ ground..First offringes yuie wandring wrye [L. errantes hederas], in euerye place shall yeald. 1591 Sylvester Du Bartas i. ii. 1070 In these doubts much rather rest had I, Then with mine error draw my Reader 'wry. 1614 ― Parl. Vertues Royall 706 A fair Ship..wants..A skilfull Pilot,..That never wry shee sail. 1721 Bailey, Wry,.. on one side, not straight. 1886 S.W. Linc. Gloss. 169 It's not very pleasant, when things all go wry. |
C. Comb., as wry-angled, wry-eyed, wry-guided, wry-legged, wry-looked, wry-toothed; wry-blown; wry-formed, wry-set.
| 1593 in Tytler Hist. Scot. (1864) IV. 212 A seduced king,..and wry-guided kingdom. 1602 Withals' Dict. 286/2 That is crooke-footed, or wry-legged. 1604 F. T. Case is Altered C ij b, There was an old man,..stumpe-footed, wry-bodied, gagge-toothed, slandering-tongue. 1648 J. Quarles Fons Lachrym. 34 There is no..wry-look'd enemy T'upbraid thy actions. 1845 Youatt Dog iv. 103 A small breed of wry-legged terriers. 1883 Longm. Mag. Aug. 381 The wry-eyed, spectacled schoolmaster. 1883 Stallybrass tr. Grimm's Teutonic Myth. III. 1075 Wry-toothed..beldams. 1897 H. N. Howard Footsteps Proserpine 16 The sea-brine beats on the wry-blown toft. 1905 A. T. Sheppard Red Cravat ii. vii. 120 Their outlines..of twisted chimneys, wry-set doors. 1906 Hardy Dynasts II. v. vi. 781 What lewdness lip those wry-formed phantoms there? 1937 Wry-angled [see mountain-roofed a. s.v. mountain 7 e]. |
b. Special combs.: wry-bill, the wry-billed plover (Anarhynchus frontalis), native to New Zealand; wry-billed a., having a bill deflected to one side (see prec.); † wry-neb, a curvirostral fossil animal; † wry-stroke fig. (see quot.); wry-tail, a deformity in poultry, characterized by deflexion of the tail to one side.
| 1896 Newton Dict. Birds 1053 *Wrybill, Anarhynchus frontalis, [is] one of the most singular birds known, peculiar to New Zealand. |
| 1873 W. L. Buller Birds N.Z. 216 Anarhynchus frontalis, *Wry-billed Plover. 1889 Parker Catal. N.Z. Exhib. 116 (Morris), The curious wry-billed plover..[is] the only bird..in which the bill is turned..to one side—the right. |
| 1708 Phil. Trans. XXVI. 78 Curvirostra, the *Wry-neb. |
| 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. vi. vi. §4 A Prior without a Posterior having none..after him to succeed in his place. We behold him only as the *wry-stroak given in by us out of courtesie, when the game was up before. |
| 1880 L. Wright Illustr. Bk. Poultry 201 *Wry-tail..is in many cases owing to spinal causes, and in all such should be ruthlessly stamped out. |
Add: [A.] [1.] d. Dryly or obliquely humorous; sardonic, ironic.
| 1928 E. O'Neill Strange Interlude ii. 46 He smiles with a wry amusement for a second. 1959 [see outsiderish adj. s.v. outsider n.]. 1965 A. Lurie Nowhere City x. 99 Paul became..more aware of Walter's patience, automotive knowledgability, and even a kind of wry charm. 1989 Times Lit. Suppl. 7 July 738/4 The collection provides a series of sharp, often wry, accounts of human relationships about to go wrong. |
▪ III. wry, v.1 Obs. exc. dial.
(raɪ)
Forms: inf. (and pres. stem). 1 wreon, 3 wreoen, 5 wrene, wre; 1 wryon, 3 wri(h)en, 4 wryen, 5 wrine, wryne, wryyn; 3 wreie, wrihe, 4 wriȝ-, 4–5 wrye, wrie, wri, 4–9 wry. pa. tense 1 wrah, wreah, 3 wreȝe, 3–4 wreih, 4 wreyh, wreighe, wreygh, wrei, wrey, wray; pl. 1 wriᵹon, wruᵹon, 2–3 wruȝen, 3 wruhen, 3 wriȝen, wrien, 4 wreȝen, wreghen. pa. pple. 1 wriᵹen, wroᵹen, 4 wrien, wryen, wrin; 3 iwriȝen, 3–4 i-, 4 ywrien, ywryen; 3–5 i-, 4–5 ywrie, ywry(e, 3 iwroȝe, 4 ywryȝe, 4–5 ywriȝe; 4 wriȝe, 4–5 wrye, 5 wrie; 3–4 wreon, 4 wreiȝen, 3 wreȝe, 4 y-, iwreȝe; 4–5 wreygh, wreighe, wreye. weak pa. tense and pple. 4–5 wryed, wried, 4 wryde, 6 wride.
[OE. wréon (pa. tense wráh, wréah, pl. wriᵹon, wruᵹon, pa. pple. wriᵹen, wroᵹen), wr{iacu}on, *wr{iacu}han (ONorthumb. wr{iacu}ᵹa), = NFris. wreye, OHG. *rîhan (in intrîhan, inrîhan, ‘revelare’). Cf. bewry v.1, overwry v., unwry v.]
† 1. trans. To lay, place, or spread a cover over (something); to overlay with some covering; to cover up or over. Obs.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xiv. 65 Ongunnun summe efneᵹespitta..hine &..wriᵹa onsione his. c 1205 Lay. 27859 Þe while he wurchen lette..ane cheste longe And wreon heo al mid golde. a 1225 Ancr. R. 58 Uorþi was ihoten a Godes half..þet put were euer iwrien. c 1275 Lay. 7781 Þe toppe [of a tower] mihte wreie on cniht mid his cope. c 1366 Chaucer Rom. Rose 56 Ther is neither busk nor hay In May that it nyl shrouded bene And it with newe leues wrene. c 1386 ― Knt.'s T. 2046 The maister strete That sprad was al with blak and wonder hye Right of the same is the strete ywrye. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 348 With marbil or with tile thy floryng wrie. Ibid. xiii. 47 The vessel fild be closid clene or wrie. 1499 Promp. Parv. (Pynson) t i b/2, Wryyn or hyllyn, tego. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Wry, to cover close. |
| fig. c 1412 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 1686 Þe feend,..with many a circumstaunce Ful sly, him castiþ þe wrappe in & wrye. |
b. To cover or rake up (a fire) so as to keep it alive. (Cf. rake v.1 5.) Now dial.
Cf. Ovid Met. iv. 64 ‘Quoque magis tegitur, tanto magis aestuat ignis’; also Fr. ‘Le feu plus couvert est le plus ardant’ (Cotgr. s.v. Feu).
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 539 Wel þe hottere ben þe gledes rede, That men hym wrien with asshe pale and dede. c 1385 ― L.G.W. 735 Thisbe, As wry the glede & hettere is the fyr; Forbede a loue and it is ten so wod. a 1895 in Rye E. Angl. Gloss. 251. |
† 2. To cover (a person) with a garment (or armour); to clothe, attire. Also refl. Occas. in fig. context. Obs.
| a 901 ælfred in Thorpe Laws I. 52 Ᵹif mon næbbe buton anfeald hræᵹl hine mid to wreonne oþþe to werianne. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxv. 36 Ic wæs..nacod & ᵹie clæðdon uel ᵹie wriᵹon meh. a 1000 Genesis 1572 Þæt he ne mihte..hine handum self mid hræᵹle wryon. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2246 Tuo hondred kniȝtes al so, Wel ywrie wiþ þe atyl. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 1148 Wrye me with sum cloþe. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 380 Swych loue of frendes regneth al þis town, And wre yow in þat mantel euere mo. c 1385 ― L.G.W. 1201 Dido, Dido al in gold & perre wrye. c 1400 Rom. Rose 6684 Of his hondwerk wolde he gete Clothes to wryne hym. |
† b. To put trappings or armour on (a horse); to caparison, trap, harness. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1281 Mid vif hondred hors iwrie..Þe erl of kent was in a wode him vor to awreke. Ibid. 2052, 4076, 4096, etc. 13.. Sir Beues (A.) 3761 Beues..seȝ þe strete ful aboute Of stedes wrien [v.r. ytrapped] and armes briȝt. 13.. K. Alis. 1606 (Laud MS.), Þer men miȝtten quyk yseen Many hors wiþ trappen wryen. 14.. Sir Beues (C.) 4145 + 13 Þauȝe þat hors were with yren wrye Syr Befyse smote clene a way. |
† 3. To cover (a thing, or person) so as to protect, keep warm, or conceal. Obs.
| a 1000 Genesis 2170 Ic þe..wið weana ᵹehwam wreo & scylde folmum minum. a 1000 Riddles xxvi[i]. 12 Mec [= a book] siþþan wrah hæleð hleobordum. a 1225 Ancr. R. 84 Þes fikelares mester is to wrien, & te helien þet gong þurl. a 1240 Wohunge in O.E. Hom. I. 279 Alle gate þu hafdes hwer þu mihtes wrihe þine banes. 1340 Ayenb. 66 Þe þorn⁓hog þet ys al ywryȝe myd prikyinde eles. c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 627 She is the monstres heed ywryen, As filth over ystrowed with floures. c 1386 ― Sompn. T. 119 Though I him wrye a-nyght and make hym warm. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. xiii. 34 From the wynd hem wrie With donge. |
| refl. c 1230 Hali Meid. (1922) 66 Ȝef þu wel wrist te under godes wengen. 13.. K. Alis. 2786 With targes, and hurdices, Theo Gregeis heom wryed als the wise. c 1330 Amis & Amil. 2333 He..in a bed him dight, And wreighe him wel warm aplight, With clothes. c 1400 Rom. Rose 6795, I haue..wel leuer..wrie me in my foxerie Vnder a cope of paperlardie. c 1440 Jacob's Well 265 He leyd hym in his bed,..he wryed hym. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 175 Wyth hir mantyl he [sc. a child] dede hym wrye. |
| absol. c 1440 Jacob's Well 140 Þe chylderyn of mannys gettyng vnder þi weengys, god, wrying, In hope schul be gyed. |
† b. To conceal or hide (a matter, etc.); to keep secret or unrevealed. Obs.
| a 1000 Genesis 876 For hwon wast þu wean & wrihst sceome. a 1200 Moral Ode 160 in O.E. Hom. I. 169 Al scal þer bon þanne unwron, þet men wruȝen her and helen. a 1225 Ancr. R. 84 Mid his preisunge [he] heleð & wrihð mon his sunne. a 1275 Ibid. 420 (MS. Cott. Cleop.), Wrihen ha schal hire scheome, as sunfule Eue dohter. c 1320 Cast. Love 918 God..nom of hire his monhede Þorw whom he wrey his Godhede. 1340 Ayenb. 61 Huanne þe blondere..excuseþ and wryeþ þe kueades and þe zennes of ham. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 1654 God, to whom þer nys no cause y-wrye. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love ii. v. (Skeat) l. 102 He wryeth moche venim with moche welth. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. 1813 For al þe foule schal couertly be wried, Þat no defaute outward be espied. c 1460 Wisdom 862 in Macro Plays 63 With þe crose & þe pyll I xall wrye yt. a 1500 Ragman Roll 157 (MS. Bodl. 638, fol. 217 b), Though they her malice inwarde keuyr & wrye. |
| refl. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus i. 329 And ay of loues seruantz euery while, Hym-self to wre, at hem he gan to smyle. |
† c. To disguise (a person). Obs. rare—1.
| 1567 Golding Ovid's Met. v. 61 b, The Gods..were faine themselues to hide In forged shapes... Ioue the Prince of Gods was wride In shape of Ram. |
† 4. Of things: To serve as a covering to (a person or thing); to be spread or extended over.
| a 1000 Genesis 1386 Flod ealle wreah..hea beorgas. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. II. 242 Sio filmen biþ þeccende & wreonde þa wambe & þa innofaran. a 1200 Vices & Virtues 95 Ðe faste hope hafð hire stede up an heih, for ði hie is rof and wrikð alle ðe hire bieð beneðen. a 1225 Ancr. R. 150 Þe rinde, þet wrih [v.r. wrið] hit, þet is þe treouwes warde. Ibid. 390 Þis scheld þet wreih his Godhed was his leoue licome. 1340 Ayenb. 167 Vor þet is þe sseld of gold..þet him wriȝþ of eche half ase zayþ þe sauter. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 143 In..Februarye..Whan frost & cold þe erthe doth wrye. 1642 D. Rogers Naaman 581 Even as the bed..that is so narrow, that it will not wry them warme. |
† b. To cover or stretch over (an expanse of ground). Obs.
| c 1205 Lay. 5192 Weoren þa hulles and þa dæles iwriȝen mid þan dæden. Ibid. 17349 Þa Irisce fullen & wriȝen al þa feldes. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 4049 Of Sarrazins..was wrin al þe feld. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 1764 (Kölbing), To Winchester þai gun spede Wiþ so michel pople of men, Þat þai wreȝen doun & den. 13.. K. Alis. 1992 (Laud MS.), Alisaunder þi foo..Liggeþ now, wiþ swiche preye, Þat he wriȝeþ [v.r. wrieth] al þe contreye. |
▪ IV. wry, v.2
(raɪ)
Forms: 1 wriᵹian, 3–5 wrien, 4–5 wryen (5 wryn), 4–7 wrie, 4–6 wrye, 5– wry; 5 wrey(e, Sc. 6 vrey (8 wray), 9 wree.
[OE. wr{iacu}ᵹian to strive, move or go forward, tend, wend (= OFris. wrigia to bend, stoop), perh. related to LG. wriggen (see wrig v., and cf. bewry v.2).]
I. intr.
† 1. a. To move, proceed, or go; to turn, wend. (Only OE.) Obs.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxv. §1 Þeah þu teo hwelcne boh ofdune to þære eorðan..swa þu hine alætst, swa sprincð he up & wriᵹað wið his ᵹecyndes. a 1000 Riddles xxi[i]. 5 Hlaford min [= master of the plough] on woh færeð, weard æt steorte, wriᵹað on wonge. |
† b. To have a particular or specified tendency, disposition, or inclination; to incline. Obs.
| c 888 ælfred Boeth. xxv. §1 Swa deð ælc ᵹesceaft; wriᵹað wið his ᵹecyndes. c 1250 Will & Wit 7 in O.E. Misc. 192 Hwenne so wil to wene wrieð. 13.. Erthe upon Erthe 42 Wanne..eorþe toward eorþe þorw coueytise wryeþ. c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483) iv. xxx. 78 He wylle cheuysse hym suche counceylle as he troweth wylle wryen to his purpoos. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. (1869) 114 For j wole þat þe tale be turned ooþer weys,..þat it turne..wryinge to my wurshipes. 1549 Coverdale Erasm. Par. James v. 39 b, The fore tokens of a mynde that wryeth downe vnto desperacyon. 1581 G. Pettie tr. Guazzo's Civ. Conv. i. (1586) 23, I mean those, who though sprinkled with some imperfections, yet wrie rather to the good, then the euill. |
† 2. Of persons: To move or go, to swerve or turn, aside, away, or awayward. Also in fig. context.
| c 1310 in Wright Lyric P. xv. 48 Þat feyre..wrieþ awey as hue were wroht. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 97 With hir heed sche wryed fast awey. 1426 Audelay Poems 18 To the worchip of this world thai wryn fro me away. c 1450 Mirk's Festial i. 112 Ȝet ȝe wryeth away and grucched to come to me. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. cxlvi. 176 Than the kyng wryed away fro hym, and commaunded to sende for y⊇ hangman. 1534 More Comf. agst. Trib. i. Wks. 1162/1 Of wickednes thei wrie awaye and..turne to theyr fleshe for helpe. |
† b. In similar use without adverb. Obs.
| c 1400 26 Pol. Poems 26 Ȝif she grucche wiþ þe to rage, And alway fro the wole wrye. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 1352 The steward saw that, and did wry, And drew him som dele aside. c 1440 York Myst. xxx. 7 That wrecche may not wrye fro my wrekis. a 1500 Hist. K. Boccus & Sydracke (? 1510) S iij, He that clymeth ouer hye May happe somtyme to wrye. 1581 A. Hall Iliad iii. 56 Paris wried at last, and so the blowe did shunne. 1596 Davies Orchestra lxiii, As when a Nimph..Leadeth a daunce.., she wries to euery hand And euery way doth crosse the fertile plaine. 1621 Sanderson Serm. ad Pop. iv. ¶3 Like a young unbroken thing that hath metal, and is free, but is ever wrying the wrong way. |
| fig. 1581 T. Howell Deuises G ij b, How fayned friends do fayle, if fate doe wrye. 1593 Queen Elizabeth Boeth. i. met. i. 2 O with how defe eare she from wretched wries. |
† c. fig. To deviate or swerve from the right or proper course; to go wrong, to err. Also with advs., as amiss, aside. Obs.
| c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 627 An ydole of false purtraiture Is she, for she woll sone wrien [v.r. varien]. 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles ii. 84 Þat no manere mede shulde make him wrye, For to trien a trouthe be-twynne two sidis. 1426 Audelay Poems 47 He..wrys away fro Godys word to his wyckydnes. Ibid. 50 Wry not fro Godis word. 1548 Patten Exped. Scotl. Pref. c v, If ye..wilfully wrye so far from hys truth. a 1557 M. Basset tr. More's Treat. Passion M.'s Wks. 1365/2 Yf we of oure owne frowardnes wrye not a contrary way, but be readye..to folowe hys most blessed will. 1568 T. Howell Arb. Amitie (1879) 40 How much a man the greater is, By his Offence that wries amisse. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. v. i. 5 How many Must murther Wiues much better then themselues For wrying but a little? 1632 Sanderson Serm. II. 27 By wrying aside in some one or a few particulars, he may..offend the Lord. 1634 Ibid. I. 63 These wry too much on the right hand, ascribing to the holy scripture such a kind of perfection as it cannot have. |
† 3. Of things: To turn aside or obliquely; to undergo deflexion, twisting, or bending; to bend, wind; to turn from side to side.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 906 Þe sonne Gan..downward for to wrye. c 1400 Beryn 2791 Then shalt þowe se an entre,..Thouȝe it be streyt to-fore,..It growith more & more, & as a dentour wriythe. c 1440 Pallad. on Husb. i. 347 Thi somer hous northest & west let wrie. c 1450 Ludus Coventriæ 229 Þe patthe be-twyn bothyn þat may not wry Schal be hope and drede to walke in perfectly. 1553 M. Wood tr. Gardiner's True Obedience 49 b, The decaied partes of their power (whose building..hath wried on the one side long ago). 1565 B. Googe tr. Palingenius' Zodiac vii. Y v b, Perchaunce..The liuely spirite enclosde..doth wrye as best it may, And striuing long through passage smal doth get at length away. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. v. xii, The first [part of the brain] with divers crooks and turnings wries. |
† b. Of a horse: To hold the head or neck to one side. Obs.—1
| 1610 Markham Masterp. i. xxxvi. 70 Holding his necke awry;..The cure is to let him bloud..on the contrary side to that way he wryeth. |
4. To contort the limbs, features, etc., as from pain or agony; to wriggle; to undergo twisting or turning; = writhe v.1 10 b.
| 1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 660 He was wraþ ful i-wrouht & wried in angur. a 1400 Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 338/381 On þe hed ponne [him] hard, Þat he go wryȝinge þenneward. Ibid. 477/46 Þe ffisch..wroþly wrieþ on þe Crok. 1493 Festyvall, Four Sermons 21/2 As a galled horse that is touched on the sore wyncheth & wryeth. 1580 Blundevil Art of Riding iii. xxii. 50 b, How to correct that Horse, which will mowe or wrie with his mouth. c 1590 J. Stewart Roland Furious vi, Poems (S.T.S.) II. 54 Scho schrinks, Scho vreyis, Scho vips for vo. a 1625 Fletcher Woman's Prize iii. i, She..wryes, and wriggles, As though she had the Itch. 1819 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd (1827) 34 He saw the wretchit men Wreein' and wreethin' wi' the pain. 1893 National Observer 30 Dec. 165/2 His mouth kept wrying from side to side. |
II. trans.
† 5. To deflect or divert (a person or thing) from some course or in some direction; to cause to turn aside, away, or back. Also refl. Obs.
| a 1400 Partonope 6865 Of hym they had the victory [in the lists], So sore hir aduersaries dyd they wrey. 1513 Douglas æneid v. xiv. 9 Baith to and fra al did thar nokkis wry [L. torquent]. Ibid. xi. xiv. 50 Latynis all thar ene about did wry [L. convertere]. 1555 T. Phaer æneid ii. 65 His tacle to the left hand set, and sterne to left hand wried. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis iii. (Arb.) 88 Right so to thee same boord thee maysters al wrye the vessels. |
| fig. c 1425 Cast. Persev. 1675 in Macro Plays 127, I wyl me wryen ffro wyckyd wreche. 1549 Chaloner Erasm. on Folly O ij, If he [sc. a prince] wrie himselfe never so little from that becometh hym. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia i. xviii, Our mindes..from the right line of vertue, are wryed to these crooked shifts. 1620 [G. Brydges] Horæ Subs. 148 Let not the parties ielousie..wrest or wry his iudgement in the least degree to preiudice. 1635 Pemble Wks. 6 Ambition and tyrannie in Churchmen wryed their thoughts..to the advancement of their owne greatnesse. 1650 Trapp Comm. Deut. xxxiii. 9 Not to be wryed or biassed by respect to carnal friends, is a high..point of self-denial. |
† b. To avert (the head, face, etc.); to turn aside or away. Obs.
| c 1400 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483) i. xv. 11 Hit sytteth the nought to wrye awey thy face. c 1407 Lydg. Reson & Sens. 1413 She gan ay hir hede to wrye. a 1450 Myrc Par. Pr. 776 Sum-what þy face from hyre þou wry. 1513 More Rich. III, Wks. 70/1 The duke..wried hys hed an other way. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 35 He wryit his face away and his visage. 1581 A. Hall Iliad iii. 55 Hector from his helmet then his countnance hauing wried,..the lots did turne. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xix. §22 Buckingham..wried his face another way. 1655 J. Cotgrave Wits Interpr. (1662) 276 When [he was] pressing for a kiss her head she wried. |
† c. To change or alter (one's course). Obs.—1
| 1598 Queen Elizabeth Plutarch i. 13 His course..wryed was to east, the sons arising place. |
† 6. To curve, inflect, bend. Obs.—1
| c 1450 Hymns Virg. (1867) 122 The rayn bowe iwryyd schalle be. |
7. To twist or turn (the body, neck, etc.) round or about; to contort, wring, wrench; to writhe. Also with advs., as † a-doyle.
| c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 285 Wrye not youre nek a doyle as hit were a dawe. 1593 [see wring v. 2, quot. a 1586]. 1598 Queen Elizabeth Plutarch xii. 14 Diogines..bak wrying and turning nek in casting on her Looke. 1607 Markham Cavel. i. (1617) 39 If you see her wrie her taile. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. i. (1674) 132 Wrying his Body twenty several waies. 1676 Hobbes Iliad xvi. 248 Jove.. granted him to save the ships from fire; But at returning safe his neck he wri'd. 1725 Fam. Dict. s.v. Palsey, Let him be blooded in his Neck-Vein..on the contrary Side to the Way he wryes his Neck. 1800 Lamb Let. in Final Mem. vi. 51 Without much wrying my neck I can see the white sails. |
b. To twist out of shape, form, or relationship; to give a twist to; to pull, contort, make wry. Also fig. and in fig. context.
| a 1586 Sidney Ps. xxii. viii, [My] loosed bones quite out of joynt be wried. 1594 Daniel Cleopatra v. ii, In her sinking downe shee wryes The Diadem which..shee wore. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits 281 The heat..wrieth the proportion of the face. 1665 J. Spencer Prodigies 254 They are a Nose of Wax which may be wry'd to what figure..Fancy shall impose upon them. 1679 Hobbes Behemoth (1840) 217 They are, for the most part, Latin and Greek words, wryed a little at the point, towards the native language. 1686 G. Stuart Joco-ser. Disc. 41 The Todd will..wry about the Neck o' th' Cock. 1727 Swift God's Revenge agst. Punning, The Lord mercifully spared his neck, but as a mark of reprobation wryed his nose. 1842 Browning In a Gondola 47 Guests by hundreds—not one caring If the dear host's neck were wried. 1855 Bailey Mystic, etc. 69 Some Titanian arm, Whose elbow, jogged by earthquakes, wryed the pole. 1861 Swinburne Queen-Mother i. i, I know him by the setting of his neck, The mask is wried there. 1883 R. W. Dixon Mano ii. iv. 78, I put on those arms which he..From the dead body had begun to wry. |
† c. fig. To wrest the meaning of; = writhe v.1 7. Obs.
| 1521 Fisher Sermon agst. Luther iv. D v, Men of fell wyttes..[who] had the propre fayth to wrye & to torcasse the scryptures. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Matt. xiii. 59 b, False Apostles..whyche wresteth and wryeth by subtyll interpretacion, the heauenly doctrine after their lustes. 1564 Brief Exam. ***ij, You do wrye this place from his naturall sense. 1631 R. Byfield Doctr. Sabb. 156 This Alleager..wryeth the sense. 1649 Bp. Reynolds Hosea vii. 136 Take heed of wresting and wrying that to the corrupt fancies of our owne evill hearts. |
† d. To pervert. Obs.
| 1563 Mirr. Mag., Hastings xlvii, Alas, are counsels wryed to catch the goode. a 1585 Montgomerie Flyting 754 The thingis I said, gif þow wald now deny, Weining to wry þe veritie with wylis. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia ii. vi, Publique defences neglected; and in summe..all awrie, and (which wried it to the most wrie course of all) witte abused. 1620 E. Blount Horæ Subs. 148 Let not the parties ielousie..wrest or wry his iudgement in the least degree to preiudice. |
e. poet. To distort the judgement of; to warp.
| 1861 Swinburne Queen-Mother i. ii, Hen. This fool is wried with wine. Mar. French air hath nipped his brains. |
f. poet. To turn, change, or alter (a colour).
| 1865 Swinburne Poems & Ball., At Eleusis 181 Ill slant eyes interpret the straight sun, But in their scope its white is wried to black. |
† 8. absol. = wring v. 4 c. Obs. rare—1.
| 14.. Chaucer's Merch. T. 341 (Petw. MS.), But I woote best wher wrieþ my shoo. |
9. To twist or distort (the face or mouth), esp. so as to manifest disgust or distaste; = writhe v. 5 b. Also refl.
| a 1510 Douglas K. Hart ii. 96 Her face scho wryit about for propir teyne. 1552 Huloet, Wryinge the mouth in waye of derision, valgulatio. ? 1554 Coverdale Hope of Faithful (1574) 150 Though ye wry your mouthes at it. 1633 Bp. Hall Hard Texts 173 Winking with their eyes and wrying their faces at me. 1681 S. Colvil Whigs Supplic. (1751) 81 He wry'd his mouth, and knit his brows. 1691 Mrs. D'Anvers Academia 56 He dare not wry his Mouth to laugh. a 1779 D. Graham Writ. (1883) II. 92, I made my eyes to roll, and wrayed my face in a frightful manner. 1857 Heavysege Saul (1869) 291 Bitter is bitter, though the lips be not Allowed to wry themselves thereat. 1888 Sat. Rev. 1 Dec. 650/1 The tonics..were bitter enough to wry the palate. 1898 M. Hewlett Forest Lovers xv, She wried her mouth to a smile. |
† 10. To roll, wrap, or wind up. Obs.—1
| 1674 N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 128, I take the seed..to be a cluster of bubbles wryed up snug. |
▪ V. wry etc.,
varr. wray v.1 Obs.