▪ I. wrest, n.1
(rɛst)
Forms: α. 3–6 wreste, 5– wrest (7–9 rest), 5 wreeste, 6 wreast, Sc. wreist, 7 Sc. wriest, 8 rist. β. 4–5 wrayst(e, 5 wraist(e. γ. 5 wraaste, wrastt, 5–6 wrast(e.
[f. the verb.]
I. 1. The action of twisting, wrenching, or writhing; a twist, wrench; a tug or violent pull; † a turn of a tuning-peg (quot. 1501).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 3462 Þair strut it was vn-stern stith, Wit wrathli wrestes [Gött. wraystes] aiþer writh. a 1400–50 Bk. Curtasye 26 in Babees Bk. 300 First to the ryȝht honde þou shalle go, Sitthen to þo left honde þy neghe þou cast; To hom þou boghe withouten wrast. c 1500 Proverbis in Antiq. Rep. (1809) IV. 406 Stoppide in the freytes they [sc. lute-strings] abydeth the pynnes wrest. 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. ii. iv, Thair instrumentis all maist war fidillis lang, But with a string quhilk neuer a wreist ȝeid wrang. 1575 Laneham Let. (1871) 53 With the wreast of a Cok [he] was sure of a coolar: water spurting vpward. 1611 Cotgr., Torse,..a wrest, wrinch; wrythe, wrying. |
| 1883 A. Herschel in Nature March 458 The time-rates of each of these momenta..are respectively angular moment or twirl (of a force-couple) and tractive moment or wrest (of a motor-couple). |
| fig. c 1430 Lydg. Lyfe of our Lady (Caxton, ? 1484) I viii b, It causeth hertes no lenger to debate That partyd ben with the wreste of hate. a 1590 Greene Orpharion Wks. (Grosart) XII. 31 Loue,..if it be ouerstrained, cracketh at the first wrest. 1838 S. Bellamy Betrayal 126 In the strong wrest of supplication, then, sole travailing. |
b. Extent of wresting; hence, reach of capacity; stretch, strain.
rare—1.
| 1593 Nashe Christ's T. L ij b, Thou wert chosen to make an Oration.., in which (hauing toyled thy wits to theyr highest wrest) thou [etc.]. |
† c. Without article. Twist or coil.
Obs.—1| a 1575 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden No. 36) 49 Thei hade for the moste parte long heare, withowte wrest or curle. |
† d. Sc. A wrenching or spraining of the muscles; a sprain or strain.
Obs.| 1616 Orkney Witch Trial in Dalyell Darker Superstit. Scotl. (1834) 118 [To make] a wresting thread, and give it in the name of the Father, Sone, and the Holie Gaist,..it wald mak ony wrest of man or beast haill. c 1700 in Jas. Watson Coll. Sc. Poems (1706) I. 60 It will be good against the Pine Of any Wriest or Strienzie. 1881 Paul Past & Pres. Aberdeen. 15 Mr. Thomson then [= in 1698] being bed-rid by reason of a wrest in his ankle. |
† 2. fig. An ill or evil turn; a trick.
Obs.| 14.. Sir Beues (E.) 1930 A made hire alway to ete ferst, Lest þey deden him ony wrest. c 1440 York Myst. xvii. 187 Than shall we wayte þam with a wrest, And make all wast þat þei haue wroght. |
† 3. The action of wresting, forcing, or straining the meaning or purport of words, etc.; an instance of this.
Obs.| 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 169 b, By what wrest of Logicke doth Osorius gather habilitie of Freewill out of the holy ordinaunces. 1597 J. Payne Royal Exch. 22 They seke fauls armure by wrest of scripture. a 1603 T. Cartwright Confut. Rhem. N.T. (1618) 467 Where the witnesse of the other hath often a wrest and tacke of her corruption. Ibid. 716 It is..partly falsification, partly a wrest of the Scripture. 1609 [Bp. W. Barlow] Answ. Nameless Cath. 38 To picke quarels at words, by wrests and streines, neither to purpose nor to sense. |
II. techn. † 4. Surg. A peg for tightening a ligature by twisting.
Obs.| c 1370 Arderne Practica (MS. Ashm. 1434) fol. 4 In quo foramine vnum vertile, anglice wrayst, imponatur. a 1425 tr. Arderne 9 By middez of whiche wraiste in þe ouer ende shal be a litel hole. |
5. An implement for tuning certain wire-stringed instruments, as the harp or spinet; a tuning-key. Now
arch. In
ME. sometimes
erron. used to render L.
plectrum.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xxi. (Bodl. MS.), Þe sowne of speking byndeþ wordes; as wreste [1495 wraste]..temperith þe strenges, so þe tonge smyteþ þe teeþ. c 1425 in Anglia VIII. 109/31 Þis newe tymbrer settiþ..hir handys and fyngers for a wrast, þat is an instrument of organ-songe. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 533/2 Wreste of an harpe or other lyke, plectrum. c 1460 Liber Pluscardensis (1877) I. 392 Sal we the menstral wyt? Yha, bot he bent and pruf thaim [sc. the strings] with his wraist. 1504 Cornishe in Skelton's Wks. (1568) Z vij, A harper w{supt} his wrest maye tune the harpe wrong. 1575 Laneham Let. (1871) 38 Hiz harp in good grace dependaunt before him: hiz wreast tyed to a green lace, and hanging by. 1612 in Halyburton's Ledger (1867) 333 Wrests for virginals the groce, vi li. 1663 Pepys Diary 1 April, Calling on the virginall maker, buying a rest for myself to tune my tryangle. 1668 Ibid. 20 July, To buy a rest for my espinette at the ironmonger's. |
| 1793 Minstrel I. 91 Beside it, suspended by a green lace, he hung the wrest, or key, by which it is tuned. [Cf. quot. 1575.] 1819 Scott Ivanhoe xliii, A silver chain, by which hung the wrest, or key, with which he tuned his harp. 1831 H. Neele Rom. Hist. I. 201 Trying his harp strings, and with his wrest or screw tuning them to the proper pitch. 1861 W. F. Collier Hist. Eng. Lit. 36 The distinctive badge of the [minstrel's] profession was the wrest or tuning-key. |
| transf. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. xxiii. (Bodl. MS.), Soune is..yschape with þe wraaste [L. plectrum] of þe tunge. |
b. fig. and in
fig. context.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII, 3 There lacked a wrest to the harpe to set all the strynges in a monacorde and tune, which was the matrimony..betwene the kynge and..Elizabeth. 1603 J. Davies (Heref.) Microcosmos Wks. (Grosart) I. 81/1 O let the longest Largs be shortest Briefes In this discordant Note, and turne the Wrest. 1613 Jas. I Edict agst. Private Combats 45 This small instrument the Tongue..being kept in tune by the wrest of awe. |
c. Her. The figure of a ‘wrest’ used as a charge.
| 1572 J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 87 b, His crest a wrest in crosse, Sol. 1688 Holme Armoury iii. xvi. (Roxb.) 59/2 He beareth Argent, a Virginall Wrest sable. |
† 6. a. An implement for wresting; a tool for turning bolts, nuts, etc.; a screw-key. Also
fig.| 1589 in Trans. Shropsh. Archæol. Soc. (1878) I. 12, iiij vice pynnes with a wrest for a field bedde. 1593 Rites & Mon. Ch. Durham (Surtees) 8 Two silver..Candlesticks for two tapers..to be taken in sunder with wrests. 1598 [see wrench n.2 5]. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 4 Thie fellowship in feeding together is..a wrest that straineth and stretcheth benevolence to the utmost. |
| fig. a 1592 Greene Alcida (1617) E 4, Faith is the key that shuts the spring of loue, Lightnesse a wrest, that wringeth all awry. |
† b. A machine for hoisting or hauling weights.
Obs. rare.
| 1584 B. R. tr. Herodotus ii. 104 They deuised certayne engines or wrestes [Gr. µηχαναὶ] to heaue vp stones from the grounde,..hauyng vppon each stayre a wreast. |
† c. (See
quot.)
Obs. rare—0.
| 1688 Holme Armoury iii. 102/1 Wrest, is that by which Saw Teeth are set. |
7. Special
Combs., as
wrest block = wrest plank;
wrest-pin, the peg or pin round which the ends of the wires or strings of certain musical instruments are coiled; a tuning-pin (also
attrib.);
wrest-plank, the board in a piano in which the wrest-pins are fixed (also
attrib. and
Comb.).
| 1787 H. Walton Specif. of Patent No. 1607, The *rest block,..the damper.., and the rest pin..are made the same as they always are made in Grand Piano Fortes. |
| 1783 J. Broadwood Specif. of Patent No. 1379. 3 The *rist pins to which the strings are fixt. 1802 T. Loud Specif. of Patent No. 2591. 2 The rest pin block. 1825 P. Erard Specif. of Patent No. 5065. 2 The want of stability in the wrest pin plank. 1880 A. J. Hipkins in Grove Dict. Mus. II. 722/1 The tuning-pin screws..into the thick metal wrestpin-piece. |
| 1799 J. Smith Specif. of Patent No. 2345. 2 The Drawing..shows the *rest plank, trussed with wood. 1846 Burkin-young in Repert. Patent Invent. (1847) IX. 78 The rest plank bridge. 1881 Instr. Census Clerks (1885) 50 Piano Manufacturing:..Tuner. Turner. Wire Maker. Wrest Plank Maker. |
▪ II. wrest, n.2 Agric. Now
dial. Also 9
wreest,
wrist.
[Incorrect spelling of rest, var. reest n., by association with prec. and wrest v.] A piece of iron (
† or wood) fastened beneath the mould-board in certain ploughs.
b. A mould-board.
| 1653 W. Blithe Eng. Improv. Impr. xxviii. 190 The Plough-sheath, Wrest, Beam, Share, and Coulter..retain these names clearly in most parts. 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agricult. 207 Any Plough..having its true Pitch, with its true cast on the Sheild-board and short Wrest. 1765 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. (ed. 2) 165 The earth of the furrow, in rising up from the fore part of the wrest, is soon resisted by the mold-board, and turned over suddenly. 1778 [W. H. Marshall] Minutes Agriculture 6 March 1776 note, The wrest is..the piece of wood, or iron,..which is meant to wrest open and clear effectually the bottom of the plow-furrow. 1796 Boys Agric. Kent (1813) 64 The furrows..are opened with an old plough, with a wrest at each side. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 408 The wrest or mould-board. 1887 Parish & Shaw Kentish Dial. 191 Wreest,..that part of a Kentish plough..on which it rests against the land ploughed up. 1893 S.E. Worc. Words 49 Wrist (Wrest or Rest) of a plough, a piece of wood below the shield-board, which wrests the earth aside from the plough. |
▪ III. wrest obs. var. wrist n.▪ IV. wrest, v. (
rɛst)
Forms: α. 1
wræstan, 3–4
wresten, 5
-yn,
-on, 4–6
wreste, 4–
wrest (7
rest); 6–7
wreast(e, 6
Sc. wreist (9
reist), 6
wryst(e,
Sc. wrist. β.
north. 4
wraist(e, 5–6
wrayste. γ. 4–6
wrast,
wraste.
pa. tense 3–5
wraste; (also
pa. pple.) 4–5
wrast, 5
wraiste,
wrest; 4
wraisted,
wrastid (etc.), 6–
wrested.
[OE. wrǽstan, = ON. *wreista (ONorw. and Icel. reista; MDa. vreste, Da. vriste):—*wraistjan, related to wrist. The northern forms with
ai,
ay, are directly
ad. ON. *wreista.]
I. 1. trans. To subject (something) to a twisting movement; to turn or twist. Also with
advs., as
about,
away,
round.
| α a 1000 Sal. & Sat. 95 (Gr.), T..hine..on ða tungan sticað, wræsteð him ðæt woddor, and him ða wongan brieceð. c 1205 Lay. 7532 Julius hit wraste & þat sweord stike feste. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace 3194 Hur fyngres sche wrast, þe blod out brak. Sche tremblede. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. ix. (Bodl. MS.) fol. 248/2 Þe poette seiþ þat serpente wraste his owne white heed backeward. a 1425 Cursor M. 7510 (Trin.), I shook hem bi þe berdes so þat her chaules I wraste in two. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 533/2 Wrestyn, and wrythyn a-ȝen, reflecto. 1548 Elyot, Intorquere mentum, to writhe or wreste the chynne. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. i. 272 A small rod of siluer..which is wrested, so that the two ends meet. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 148 A shoe is wrested and turned according to the fashion of a crooked or splay-foot. 1676 Marvell Gen. Councils Wks. (Grosart) III. 153 The heliotrope flower..wrests its neck in turning after the warm sun. 1733 Tull Horse-Hoeing Husb. xiv. 193 A Rope..which they bring over the Top of all the loaded Sheets, and wrest it at the Tail [of each waggon]. 1893 F. Thompson Poems 59 He wrested o'er the rhymer's head that garmenting which wrought him wrong. |
| transf. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 105 Notwithstanding all these barres, within which he [sc. a mountain-range] is pent, twined, and wrested. |
| β, γ a 1425 tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 9 Wraistyng þe skynne atuyx þe tewel & þe fistule. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. xvi. 547 This Caytyfe..shall be wronge wrast, or I wend away. 1570 Levins Manip. 203 To wrayste, torquere. |
† b. To screw or turn (the pin or pins of a musical instrument) so as to tighten or tune the strings; to tune or tighten (a stringed instrument, its wires, etc.) by means of a wrest. Also with
up.
Occas. in
fig. context.
| a 1000 Bi Manna Wyrdum 82 (Gr.), Sum sceal mid hear⁓pan æt his hlafordes fotum sittan,..& a snellice snere wræstan, lætan scralletan. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 340 An harpe haþe þre partis,..þe ouermost in which ben stringis wrastid. Ibid. 341 And sorowe of trespasse aȝeyns hem ten [sc. strings] shal wraste þis harpe to a-corde welle. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 533 Wreston, plecto. 1504 Cornishe in Skelton's Wks. (1568) Z vj, The claricord hath a tunely kynde As the wyre is wrested hye and lowe. 1581 G. Pettie Guazzo's Civ. Conv. ii. (1586) 117 Our lyfe is like to instruments of Musicke, which sometime wresting vp the strings and sometime by loosing them, become more melodious. 1587 Greene Tritam. ii, Siluestro..had almost made Lacena peeuish, fearing if he wrested not the pin to a right key, his melody would be marred. 1615 Swetnam Arraignm. Wom. 19 As fidlers do their strings, who wrest them so high [etc.]. |
| fig. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1166 Þat wakned his wrath & wrast hit so hyȝe, Þat [etc.]. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas vi. 423 Of an harpe he herde the sueete soun. Which instrument..Wrestid hym ageyn to al gladnesse. 1584 Greene Mirr. Modestie (1866) 19 The Judges..by the power of the law thought to wrest hir vpon a higher pin. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe Wks. (Grosart) V. 232 Rouze thy spirites..and wrest them vp to the most outstretched ayry straine of elocution. |
† c. To put or set
in with a twisting or tortuous movement; to insert or introduce in this manner. Chiefly
fig. Obs.| 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. 120 He can do nothing else in musik but wrest & wring in hard points vpon a plainsong. 1606 Chapman Gentl. Usher iii. ii. 450 Theres a fine word now; wrest in that if you can by any meanes. 1690 C. Nesse O. & N. Test. I. 109 If the subtle serpent can but see a hole to wrest in his head. |
2. To pull, pluck, drag away, or detach (a person or thing) with a wrench or twist; to twist, tear, or wrench out, etc. Also with
advs., as
aside,
forth,
off,
out,
whence, or preps., as
off,
out of, and
esp. from.
| α 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4309 Bineþe þe nekke he him nom, & wraste him adoun of is hors. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 6195 Þe lyd vp sone þey wraste. 1387 Trevisa Higden V. 181 Fyve knyȝtes myȝte not wreste the rope out of his hond. 14.. Sir Beues (M.) 190 Wyth that syr Guy his swerde out wrasted. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xiv. 670 Hym from his hors anon he wraste. 1590 Spenser F.Q. iii. xii. 33 From her..The wicked weapon rashly he did wrest. a 1661 Fuller Worthies iii. (1662) 197 He also then assisted Henry Bull..to wrest..out of the hands of the Choristers, the Censer. 1698 Froger Voy. 33 Young girls..could not be wrested from them [sc. apes] without a great deal of difficulty. 1724 C. L. St. Taffy's Day 37 Brass Knockers strong, from Doors fierce wresting. 1778, etc. [see wrest n.2]. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xxii, Foster..wrested the flask from her hand. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus lxii. 21 Thou from a mother's arms canst wrest her daughter asunder. |
| transf. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1802 He was corsed for his vn-clannes,..& of þyse worldes worchyp wrast out for euer. 1886 Flor. Marryat Tom Tiddler's G. 173, I procured a bed, whence I was wrested at an unearthly hour the next morning. |
| refl. 1686 tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 163 In another Condition, I should..have wrested my self out of their Clutches Scotfree. |
| β, γ a 1300 Cursor M. 3466 He þat on þe right side lai Þe toþer him wraisted oft away. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 80 Þay..Wryþe me in a warlok, wrast out myn yȝen. c 1400 St. Alexius (Cotton) 316 He hyllde his hand so faste, That owte he myght hit [sc. a leaf] natt wrast. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. xii. 21 His yron axe..by no meanes..backe againe he forth could wrast. |
b. fig. and in
fig. context.
| 1513 More Rich. III (1883) 24 Suche euyll oppinyon once fastened in mennes hartes hard it is to wraste oute, and maye growe [etc.]. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 88 b, That our holynes, deuocyon, & good religyon..wrast vs not from the fauour of God. 1587 Harrison England ii. ii. (1877) i. 53 Being sore grieued, that she had..wrested out such a verdict against him. 1693 Prior To Dr. Sherlock 44 You wrest the Bolt from Heav'ns avenging Hand. 1769 Robertson Chas. V, xi. Wks. 1813 III. 350 Unfortunate Princes from whose hands some strong rival had wrested their sceptre. 1796 Wordsw. Borderers 1617, I yielded up those precious hopes, which nought On earth could else have wrested from me. 1825 Macaulay Ess., Milton ¶81 He had been wrested by no common deliverer from the grasp of no common foe. 1846 Landor Imag. Conv. Wks. II. 47 Single states are poor props: but who can wrest out Germany? |
† c. To force (a person) out
of something.
Obs.—1| c 1440 York Myst. xxxi. 261 He is wraiste of his witte or will of his wone. |
† d. transf. To press or force
out (sounds, etc.); to emit or utter,
esp. with difficulty.
Obs.| c 1402 Lydg. Compl. Bl. Knight 48 The nyghtyngale..her voys gan oute wrest. c 1502 Joseph Arim. 388 In May, whan the nightyngale Wrestes out her notes musycall. 1576 Whetstone Rocke of Regard ii. 116 To wreast out this following complaint. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus H j, The poore gentlewoman not able to wreste out one worde for weepinge. |
† e. With
forth. To pass or spend (time) in pain or distress.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1577 Grange Golden Aphrod. D iij, With many a sobbing sighe..he wrested foorth the tedious night. |
† 3. To turn or dispose (some one, his heart) to a person or thing; to incline or influence (a person, etc.)
to do something.
Obs.| 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1482 Wyȝe þat is so wel wrast alway to god. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 1427 Fynally he gan his herte wreste To trusten here. 1426 Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 7739 He brydlede hem, & dyde hem wreste, What⁓euere they herde, to sey the beste. c 1440 York Myst. xi. 137 If thai with wrang ought walde þe wrayste Owte of all wothis I sall þe were. 1579 Hake Newes out of Powles (1872) B ij, Ofte tymes by force they wrest and wring him to their handes. 1592 Greene Repentance Wks. (Grosart) XII. 157 A yong man is like a tender plant, apt to be wrested by nurture either to good or euill. 1603 J. Davies (Heref.) Microcosmos Wks. (Grosart) I. 51/2 A sweete-sowre thing (Which may the Sov'raign wrest, the subiect wring) Call'd Lieges'-loue abus'd. a 1618 Raleigh Prerog. Parlt. (1628) 23 To wrest the King, and to draw the inheritance vpon himselfe, hee perswaded his Majestie to relinquish his enterest. |
† b. To move (the mind, attention, etc.) from a settled state or an object; to unsettle, unfix; to divert
to something else.
Obs.| a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 4622 Ouir wild [= will] is many ways wraiste, as þe wedire skiftis. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. x, Langer slepe ne rest Ne myght I nat, so were my wittis wrest. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 70 We gloir for to speik of Christ:..Bot far fra him our hartis we wreist. 1570 Googe Pop. Kingd. Pref. B ij b, They..carefully wrest their mind hither and thither, to obtaine the forgiuenesse of their sinnes. 1609 F. Greville Mustapha iii. i, Who wrests his princes mind Presents his faith vpon the stage of chance. 1646 J. Hall Horæ Vac. 188 Whereas Ariosto will..wrest his [sc. a reader's] Attention to a new businesse. |
c. poet. To draw aside, divert (a look).
| 1738 J. G. Cooper Father's Advice to his Son iii, The father's eyes no object wrested, But on the smiling prattler hung. |
4. To usurp, arrogate, or take by force (power, a right, etc.); to assume forcibly (a dignity or office); to seize, capture, or take (lands, dominion, etc.) from another or others:
a. Const.
away,
from (also in early use with dative),
out of,
† into,
upon.
In very frequent use (
esp. with
from) since
c 1820.
| 1426 Audelay Poems 23 He syȝ the Trinyte apere within his body clere, then enterd in hym envy, Whan he hade seyne this gloryis syȝt, He wolde wrast hym his myȝt. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 15, I was very muche grieued..that the triumphe which most iustly you did deserue, was so wrongfully wrested from you. 1609 Bible (Douay) 2 Macc. iv. 24 He..wrested the high priesthood upon him self. 1660 T. M. Hist. Independ. iv. 13 The English affairs and Government being thus wrested into the hands of a few desperate persons. 1682 Burnet Rights Princes iii. 96 The Popes had so strugled to wrest the Investitures out of the hands of the Princes of the West. 1702 Rowe Tamerl. iv. i, Oh! teach my Power To cure those Ills,..Lest Heav'n should wrest it from my idle Hand. 1769 Robertson Chas. V, ii. Wks. 1813 V. 261 The emperors, too feeble to wrest them out of their hands, were obliged to grant the clergy fiefs of those ample territories. 1838 Prescott Ferd. & Is. (1846) I. vi. 294 The rights, thus wrested from the grasp of Rome. 1879 Froude Cæsar xxii. 384 They had gradually wrested his authority out of his hands. |
| fig. and in fig. context. 1549 Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. Rom. 32 They..through their strength in faith..wreste out with strong hande the benediccion of God. 1671 Milton P.R. i. 470 Thou hast..urg'd me hard with doings, which not will But misery hath rested from me. 1830 Herschel Study Nat. Philosophy i. i. 3 The spoils of all nature are..wrested with reluctance, from the mine, the forest, the ocean, and the air. 1834 L. Ritchie Wand. by Seine 5 To wrest a territory from the sea. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Miner's Right (1899) 163/2, I had wrested from fortune her favours and smiles. |
b. Rarely without
const.| 1535 Coverdale Prol. ¶24 Lest thou.. wrest the righte of the straunger. 1624 Quarles Job Militant Wks. (Grosart) II. 87/1 He shall returne, what he did wrest. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xxv. 230 The great means of the Clergie in time of Popery was rather wrested then given. |
| absol. 1582 C. Fetherstone Dial. agst. Dancing A 4, The extorcioner wresteth and wringeth, to the ende he may augment his gaines. a 1618 Raleigh Prerog. Parlt. (1628) 19 The Lords being to strong for the King, forced his consent... They wrested too much beyond the bounds of reason. |
c. To obtain or gain (money, information, etc.) by extortion, persistency, or strong persuasion; to wring;
= screw v. 5. Also with
advs., as
out, or preps., as
from,
out of.
| 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Extorqueo, Thou diddest wreste..from Ceasar, 50. talentes. Ibid., Veritatem extorquere,..to wreste out the truth. 1592 Greene Disput. 12 Boon Companions, that by their wittes can wrest mony from a Churle. 1601 Mountjoy in Moryson Itin. (1617) iii. 149, I should have wrested out of him [sc. a prisoner] the certainty of all things. 1624 Termes de la Ley 185 b, Exaction is where an Officer or other man demandeth and wresteth a fee..where no fee..is due at all. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ii. 91 At last she wrested leave from her Husband to live a Nun. 1671 Milton Samson 384 Did not she..reveal The secret wrested from me? 1797 Mrs. Radcliffe Italian xvii, Your obstinacy can neither wrest from us the truth nor pervert it. 1848 Dickens Dombey xlii, She battled with herself.., but he wrested the answer from her. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Truth ad fin., Tortures..could never wrest from an Egyptian the confession of a secret. |
| transf. 1591 Spenser Ruines of Time 486 Deepelie muzing at her doubtfull speach, Whose meaning much I labored foorth to wreste. |
5. To strain or overstrain the meaning or bearing of (a writing, passage, word, etc.); to deflect or turn from the true or proper signification; to twist, pervert;
= wrench v. 7,
screw v. 3 c.
In very
freq. use
c 1575–
c 1700. An earlier example is implied under
wresting vbl. n. 2.
| α a 1533 Frith Boke (1548) C iiij b, Sophisters wolde wrest their sayinges, and expounde them after their fantasy. 1581 Mulcaster Positions iii. 12 Is it not he which wringeth the writer, and wreasteth his meaning? 1626 Gouge Serm. Dignity Chivalry §1 The forenamed point, ‘The Dignity of Chivalry’, is not violently wrested. a 1674 Clarendon Surv. Leviath. (1676) 287 To wrest and torture words to comply with his extravagant Wit. 1708 O. Dykes Eng. Proverbs 120 Are not the holy Scriptures good, because they are wrested? 1738 Jurin in Keill's Anim. Oecon. 98 See also how that can be done, which my learned Antagonist seems most to have wrested. 1814 Scott Wav. xxxi, You appear convinced of my guilt, and wrest every reply I have made. 1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 52 Nay, do not wrest my words. 1909 T. R. Glover Confl. Relig. in Early Rom. Emp. x. 309 He can quibble and wrest the obvious meaning of a document to perfection. |
| absol. 1564 J. Martiall Treat. Crosse 84 Lett hereticks wringe and wrest as longe as they list, to wise men they shal neuer be hable to persuade the contrarie. 1592 Greene Upst. Courtier C 3, The end of all being, is to knowe God, And not as your worshippe..wrests to creep into acquaintance. |
| transf. and fig. 1549 Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. Gal. 4 This submyssion of myne is by them wrest into a wrong meanyng. 1581 Howell Devises G j, For Golde who shunnes to wrest a wrong And make it seeme as right and strong? 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, i. ii. 14 God forbid..That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading. 1617 Campion 4th Bk. Ayres xx, Wrest euery word and looke, Racke euery hidden thought. 1665 Hooke Microgr. 28 Nor wrest I any experiment to make it quadrare with any preconceiv'd Notion. 1768 Walpole Hist. Doubts 94, I have thus, without straining or wresting probability, proved all I pretended to prove. |
| γ 1538 Bale Thre Lawes 1126 By wrastynge the text, to the scriptures sore decay. 1561 T. N[orton] Calvin's Inst. iii. 201 Diuines, that..violently wrasted..many places of Scripture. 1563 Homilies ii. Repentance ii. ¶6 The aduersaries go about to wrast this place for to maintaine their auricular confession withall. |
b. Const.
against,
from,
† into,
to,
unto.
| 1536 Act 28 Hen. VIII, c. 10 ¶1 The Pope..did obfuscate and wreste Goddis holy worde..from the spirituall and trew meanyng therof. 1550 Lever Serm. (Arb.) 138 They wrest the saying of Paule vnto a wrong meanynge. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 9 What places of scripture the Papistes do depraue and wraste into a wronge sense. 1612 T. Taylor Titus i. 6 They are glad to snatch here and there a word, to wrest against the Author's meaning. 1665 Glanvill Scepsis Sci. xviii. 116 To wrest names from their known meaning to senses most alien. 1683 Kennett tr. Erasm. on Folly 135 St. Paul himself.. mangles some citations..and seems to wrest them to a different sense. 1820 Q. Mus. Mag. II. 260 note, This word has been wrested from its pristine and legitimate signification. 1851 Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 272 When you try to wrest Scripture and history to your own use. 1904 S. H. Butcher Harvard Lect. 184 If their utterances could not be wrested to the desired end. |
| absol. 1540 Coverdale Confut. Standish (1547) d vij b, Thus make ye of gods holy scripture a shipmans hose, wresting and wringing to what purpose ye will. |
c. To put a wrong construction on the words or purport of (a writer); to misinterpret.
| 1555 Philpot in Foxe A. & M. (1563) 1429/2 It is shame for you to wrast and wrieth the doctors as you do. 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse To Rdr. (Arb.) 18 His schollers were woont,..howe right soeuer hee wrote, to wrest him. 1604 Supplic. Masse Priests, Answer L 4 b, They haue no reason to quarrell with any of vs for wresting, or mistaking, or misalledging Fathers. 1656 Bramhall Replic. vi. 273 A confused companie of Authors..of little knowledge in our English affairs, tentered and wrested from their genuine sense. 1687 Prior Hind & P. Transv. Pref., Those Authors are wrested from their true Sense. |
† d. To derive or deduce (a name, etc.) irregularly
from something; to change improperly.
Obs.| 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 628/1 The Irish thinke to ennoble themselves by wresting theyr auncientrye from the Spaynyarde. 1605 Camden Rem. 59 Geruasius in Latine..may signifie..honourable, as wrested from Gerousius. Ibid. James, Wrested from Iacob. 1711 Brightland's Gram. Eng. Tongue 137 Asparagus, Sparagus,..which the Vulgar wrest to..Sparrowgrass. |
6. To turn or deflect (a matter, etc.); to divert
to (
unto,
† into) some different (
esp. undue or improper) purpose, end, etc.; to distort or pervert.
| 1524 Sir T. More in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. I. 256 To use th'erle of Angwish for an instrument to wryng and wreste the maters in to bettre trayne. 1535 Coverdale Exod. xxiii. 8 Giftes blinde euen them y{supt} are sharpe of sight & wraist the righteous causes. 1598 Rowlands Betraying Christ 3 The art of Poesie..being..wrested and turned to the fooleries of Loue. 1620 E. Blount Horæ Subs. 148 Let not the parties ielousie..wrest or wry his iudgement in the least degree to preiudice. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. iii. 225 One casuall event that may bee but wrested to their purpose. 1721 Berkeley Prev. Ruin Gt. Brit. Wks. III. 208 Cunning men, who bend and wrest the public interest to their own private ends. 1802 M. Edgeworth Moral T., Forester xv, By wresting to the prisoner's disadvantage every circumstance. 1861 Ld. Brougham British Const. xvi. 247 A Pemberton wresting the rules of evidence, to the sacrifice of innocent persons. 1878 Stubbs Const. Hist. III. xviii. 281 The forms of government..might be overborne and perverted; and the charge of thus wresting and warping them is shared[etc.]. |
b. To deflect (the law, etc.) from its proper course or interpretation; to turn from the right application; to misapply, pervert.
| α c 1530 Tindale Deut. xvi. 19 Wrest not the lawe..nether take any rewarde. 1575 Gascoigne Glasse of Govt. v. ix, Where no mediacions..may wrest the sentence of the Lawe. 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 622/2 The same Statutes are..very easely wrested to the fraud of the subject. 1611 Bible Exod. xxiii. 6 Thou shalt not wrest the iudgement of thy poore in his cause. 1683 Burnet tr. More's Utopia 149 A sort of People, whose Profession it is..to wrest Laws. 1761 Hume Hist. Eng. (1806) IV. li. 75 The law was generally supposed to be wrested, in order to prolong their imprisonment. 1885 Ld. Fitzgerald in Law Times' Rep. LIII. 477/2 He would..have been wresting one of the rules. |
| β, γ 1535 Coverdale 1 Sam. viii. 3 His sonnes..toke giftes, & wraysted the lawe. 1549 Latimer 2nd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 53 To wrast the wayes of iudgement. |
† c. To divert or deflect unjustly
upon some one.
Obs.| 1609 Bible (Douay) Ps. liv. 4 They have wrested iniquities upon me. 1632 Lithgow Trav. x. 476 The Gouernour had wrested the Inquisition vpon mee. |
7. a. To overstrain the muscles of (a joint, etc.); to sprain, strain, or rick (the foot, ankle, etc.). Chiefly
Sc.| c 1550 Lyndesay Play 742, I haif wreistit my schank. 1567 J. Sandford Epictetus 29 Take heede..that thou wreaste not thy foote. 1649 T. Wodenote Hermes Theol. 147 He..stumbled, and wrested his foot. a 1670 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (1850) I. 375 He, vnhappellie going throw Abirdein.., wrestit his cute or leg. 1904 in Eng. Dial. Dict. V. 84 s. Sc. I have reisted my wrist, by using a hammer. |
b. To affect with griping pain; to rack, wring.
| c 1520 Skelton Magnyf. 2302 Cou. Cou. Ye shall be clappyd with a coloppe That wyll make you to halt and to hoppe. Cra. Con. Som be wrestyd there that they thynke on it forty dayes. 1700 Blackmore Deborah's Song 202 The earth with dreadful gripes was sore opprest, Which did its twisted bowels wrest. |
II. † 8. intr. To struggle or contend; to strive or wrestle
against something.
Obs.| a 1225 Ancr. R. 374 [Heo] moten wresten aȝean [fondunges] mid stronge wragelunge. a 1300 Cursor M. 19353 (Edinb. MS.), Þan bigan þai [sc. the Jews] wrenke and wraiste [v.rr. wraist, wrest], And for tene þair teþþe to gnaiste. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 3554 Thei holde ȝow so sore agast, That ȝe dar not with hem wrast. 1548 P. Nichols Godly New Story E iij b, For some wring & wrest to go backe agayn into Egypt. a 1585 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 277 Ane fische..in the nette,..Ay wristing and thristing, the faster still is scho. 1590 Lodge Rosalind P 2 b, He that wrests against the will of Venus. 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. l j b, She strugled, she wrested, but all was in vaine. |
| transf. 1577 Fulke Confut. Purg. 447 The blessed state of them that dye in the Lord, in the meaning of which you wrest and wrigle, like a snake. |
† 9. To force a way, make way with effort, find egress. Also with
through,
out.
Obs.| c 1450 Mirk's Festial i. 9 Þay bonden hym to þe crosse..so hard..þat þe blod wrast apon yche a knot. c 1475 Partenay 1377 The timbre and yre thorugh hys body wraste. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. xii. 81 The faire Enchauntresse..Tryde all her arts..thence out to wrest. |
† 10. Of sound: To break forth.
Obs.—1| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1403 Sturnen trumpen strake steuen in halle, Aywhere by þe wowes wrasten krakkes. |