Wring transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Wrung , Obsolete Wringed ; present participle & verbal noun Wringing .] [ Middle English wringen , Anglo-Saxon wringan ; akin to LG. & Dutch wringen , Old High German ringan to struggle, German ringen , Swedish vränga to distort, Danish vringle to twist. Confer Wrangle , Wrench , Wrong .]

1. To twist and compress; to turn and strain with violence; to writhe; to squeeze hard; to pinch; as, to wring clothes in washing. "Earnestly wringing Waverley's hand." Sir W. Scott. " Wring him by the nose." Shak.

[ His steed] so sweat that men might him wring .

Chaucer.

The king began to find where his shoe did wring him.

Bacon.

The priest shall bring it [ a dove] unto the altar, and wring off his head.

Leintransitive verb 15.

2. Hence, to pain; to distress; to torment; to torture.

Too much grieved and wrung by an uneasy and strait fortune.

Clarendon.

Didst thou taste but half the griefs
That wring my soul, thou couldst not talk thus coldly.

Addison.

3. To distort; to pervert; to wrest.

How dare men thus wring the Scriptures?

Whitgift.

4. To extract or obtain by twisting and compressing; to squeeze or press (out); hence, to extort; to draw forth by violence, or against resistance or repugnance; -- usually with out or form .

Your overkindness doth wring tears from me.

Shak.

He rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece.

Judg. vi. 38.

5. To subject to extortion; to afflict, or oppress, in order to enforce compliance.

To wring the widow from her 'customed right.

Shak.

The merchant adventures have been often wronged and wringed to the quick.

Hayward.

6. (Nautical) To bend or strain out of its position; as, to wring a mast.

Wring intransitive verb To writhe; to twist, as with anguish.

'T is all men's office to speak patience
To those that wring under the load of sorrow.

Shak.

Look where the sister of the king of France
Sits wringing of her hands, and beats her breast.

Marlowe.

Wring noun A writhing, as in anguish; a twisting; a griping. [ Obsolete] Bp. Hall.

Wringbolt noun (Shipbuilding) A bolt used by shipwrights, to bend and secure the planks against the timbers till they are fastened by bolts, spikes, or treenails; -- not to be confounded with ringbolt .

Wringer noun
1. One who, or that which, wrings; hence, an extortioner.

2. A machine for pressing water out of anything, particularly from clothes after they have been washed.

Wringing adjective & noun from Wring , v.

Wringing machine , a wringer. See Wringer , 2.

Wringstaff noun ; plural Wringstaves (Shipbuilding) A strong piece of plank used in applying wringbolts.

Wrinkle noun A winkle. [ Local, U. S.]

Wrinkle noun [ Middle English wrinkil , Anglo-Saxon wrincle ; akin to OD. wrinckel , and probably to Danish rynke , Swedish rynka , Icelandic hrukka , Old High German runza , German runzel , Latin ruga . .............]

1. A small ridge, prominence, or furrow formed by the shrinking or contraction of any smooth substance; a corrugation; a crease; a slight fold; as, wrinkle in the skin; a wrinkle in cloth. "The wrinkles in my brows." Shak.

Within I do not find wrinkles and used heart, but unspent youth.

Emerson.

2. hence, any roughness; unevenness.

Not the least wrinkle to deform the sky.

Dryden.

3. [ Perhaps a different word, and a dim. Anglo-Saxon wrenc a twisting, deceit. Confer Wrench , noun ] A notion or fancy; a whim; as, to have a new wrinkle . [ Colloq.]

Wrinkle transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Wrinkled ; present participle & verbal noun Wrinkling .]

1. To contract into furrows and prominences; to make a wrinkle or wrinkles in; to corrugate; as, wrinkle the skin or the brow. "Sport that wrinkled Care derides." Milton.

Her wrinkled form in black and white arrayed.

Pope.

2. Hence, to make rough or uneven in any way.

A keen north wind that, blowing dry,
Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed.

Milton.

Then danced we on the wrinkled sand.

Bryant.

To wrinkle at , to sneer at. [ Obsolete] Marston.

Wrinkle intransitive verb To shrink into furrows and ridges.

Wrinkly adjective Full of wrinkles; having a tendency to be wrinkled; corrugated; puckered. G. Eliot.

His old wrinkly face grew quite blown out at last.

Carlyle.

Wrist noun [ Middle English wriste , wrist , Anglo-Saxon wrist ; akin to OFries. wriust , LG. wrist , German rist wrist, instep, Icelandic rist instep, Dan. & Swedish vrist , and perhaps to English writhe .]

1. (Anat.) The joint, or the region of the joint, between the hand and the arm; the carpus. See Carpus .

He took me by the wrist , and held me hard.

Shak.

2. (Machinery) A stud or pin which forms a journal; -- also called wrist pin .

Bridle wrist , the wrist of the left hand, in which a horseman holds the bridle. -- Wrist clonus . [ New Latin clonus , from Greek .... See Clonic .] (Medicine) A series of quickly alternating movements of flexion and extension of the wrist, produced in some cases of nervous disease by suddenly bending the hand back upon the forearm. -- Wrist drop (Medicine) , paralysis of the extensor muscles of the hand, affecting the hand so that when an attempt is made to hold it out in line with the forearm with the palm down, the hand drops. It is chiefly due to plumbism. Called also hand drop . -- Wrist plate (Steam Engine) , a swinging plate bearing two or more wrists, for operating the valves.

Wristband noun The band of the sleeve of a shirt, or other garment, which covers the wrist.

Wrister noun A covering for the wrist.

Wristlet noun An elastic band worn around the wrist, as for the purpose of securing the upper part of a glove.

Writ obsolete 3d pers. sing. present of Write , for writeth . Chaucer.

Writ archaic imperfect & past participle of Write . Dryden.

Writ noun [ Anglo-Saxon writ , ge writ . See Write .]

1. That which is written; writing; scripture; -- applied especially to the Scriptures, or the books of the Old and New testaments; as, sacred writ . "Though in Holy Writ not named." Milton.

Then to his hands that writ he did betake,
Which he disclosing read, thus as the paper spake.

Spenser.

Babylon, so much spoken of in Holy Writ .

Knolles.

2. (Law) An instrument in writing, under seal, in an epistolary form, issued from the proper authority, commanding the performance or nonperformance of some act by the person to whom it is directed; as, a writ of entry, of error, of execution, of injunction, of mandamus, of return, of summons, and the like.

» Writs are usually witnessed, or tested , in the name of the chief justice or principal judge of the court out of which they are issued; and those directed to a sheriff, or other ministerial officer, require him to return them on a day specified. In former English law and practice, writs in civil cases were either original or judicial ; the former were issued out of the Court of Chancery, under the great seal, for the summoning of a defendant to appear, and were granted before the suit began and in order to begin the same; the latter were issued out of the court where the original was returned, after the suit was begun and during the pendency of it. Tomlins . Brande . Encyc . Brit . The term writ is supposed by Mr. Reeves to have been derived from the fact of these formulæ having always been expressed in writing , being, in this respect, distinguished from the other proceedings in the ancient action, which were conducted orally .

Writ of account , Writ of capias , etc. See under Account , Capias , etc. -- Service of a writ . See under Service .

Writability noun Ability or capacity to write. [ R.] Walpole.

Writable adjective Capable of, or suitable for, being written down.

Writative adjective Inclined to much writing; -- correlative to talkative . [ R.] Pope.

Write transitive verb [ imperfect Wrote ; past participle Written ; Archaic imperfect & past participle Writ ; present participle & verbal noun Writing .] [ Middle English writen , Anglo-Saxon wrītan ; originally, to scratch, to score; akin to Old Saxon wrītan to write, to tear, to wound, Dutch rijten to tear, to rend, German reissen , Old High German rīzan , Icelandic rīta to write, Goth. writs a stroke, dash, letter. Confer Race tribe, lineage.]

1. To set down, as legible characters; to form the conveyance of meaning; to inscribe on any material by a suitable instrument; as, to write the characters called letters; to write figures.

2. To set down for reading; to express in legible or intelligible characters; to inscribe; as, to write a deed; to write a bill of divorcement; hence, specifically, to set down in an epistle; to communicate by letter.

Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves.

Shak.

I chose to write the thing I durst not speak
To her I loved.

Prior.

3. Hence, to compose or produce, as an author.

I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time within the memory of men still living.

Macaulay.

4. To impress durably; to imprint; to engrave; as, truth written on the heart.

5. To make known by writing; to record; to prove by one's own written testimony; -- often used reflexively.

He who writes himself by his own inscription is like an ill painter, who, by writing on a shapeless picture which he hath drawn, is fain to tell passengers what shape it is, which else no man could imagine.

Milton.

To write to , to communicate by a written document to. -- Written laws , laws deriving their force from express legislative enactment, as contradistinguished from unwritten , or common, law. See the Note under Law , and Common law , under Common , adjective

Write intransitive verb
1. To form characters, letters, or figures, as representative of sounds or ideas; to express words and sentences by written signs. Chaucer.

So it stead you, I will write ,
Please you command.

Shak.

2. To be regularly employed or occupied in writing, copying, or accounting; to act as clerk or amanuensis; as, he writes in one of the public offices.

3. To frame or combine ideas, and express them in written words; to play the author; to recite or relate in books; to compose.

They can write up to the dignity and character of the authors.

Felton.

4. To compose or send letters.

He wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry concerning their freedom.

1 Esdras iv. 49.

Writer noun [ Anglo-Saxon wrītere .]

1. One who writes, or has written; a scribe; a clerk.

They [ came] that handle the pen of the writer .

Judg. v. 14.

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer .

Ps. xlv. 1.

2. One who is engaged in literary composition as a profession; an author; as, a writer of novels.

This pitch, as ancient writers do report, doth defile.

Shak.

3. A clerk of a certain rank in the service of the late East India Company, who, after serving a certain number of years, became a factor.

Writer of the tallies (Eng. Law) , an officer of the exchequer of England, who acted as clerk to the auditor of the receipt, and wrote the accounts upon the tallies from the tellers' bills. The use of tallies in the exchequer has been abolished. Wharton (Law. Dict.) -- Writer's cramp, palsy, or spasm (Medicine) , a painful spasmodic affection of the muscles of the fingers, brought on by excessive use, as in writing, violin playing, telegraphing, etc. Called also scrivener's palsy . -- Writer to the signet . See under Signet .

Writership noun The office of a writer.

Writhe transitive verb [ imperfect Writhed ; past participle Writhed , Obsolete or Poetic Writhen ; present participle & verbal noun Writhing .] [ Middle English writhen , Anglo-Saxon wrī...an to twist; akin to Old High German rīdan , Icelandic rī...a , Swedish vrida , Danish vride . Confer Wreathe , Wrest , Wroth .]

1. To twist; to turn; now, usually, to twist or turn so as to distort; to wring. "With writhing [ turning] of a pin." Chaucer.

Then Satan first knew pain,
And writhed him to and fro.

Milton.

Her mouth she writhed , her forehead taught to frown.

Dryden.

His battle- writhen arms, and mighty hands.

Tennyson.

2. To wrest; to distort; to pervert.

The reason which he yieldeth showeth the least part of his meaning to be that whereunto his words are writhed .

Hooker.

3. To extort; to wring; to wrest. [ R.]

The nobility hesitated not to follow the example of their sovereign in writhing money from them by every species of oppression.

Sir W. Scott.

Writhe intransitive verb To twist or contort the body; to be distorted; as, to writhe with agony. Also used figuratively.

After every attempt, he felt that he had failed, and writhed with shame and vexation.

Macaulay.

Writhen adjective Having a twisted distorted from.

A writhen staff his step unstable guides.

Fairfax.

Writhle transitive verb [ Freq. of writhe .] To wrinkle. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Writing noun
1. The act or art of forming letters and characters on paper, wood, stone, or other material, for the purpose of recording the ideas which characters and words express, or of communicating them to others by visible signs.

2. Anything written or printed; anything expressed in characters or letters ; as: (a) Any legal instrument, as a deed, a receipt, a bond, an agreement, or the like. (b) Any written composition; a pamphlet; a work; a literary production; a book; as, the writings of Addison. (c) An inscription.

And Pilate wrote a title . . . And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

John xix. 19.

3. Handwriting; chirography.

Writing book , a book for practice in penmanship. -- Writing desk , a desk with a sloping top for writing upon; also, a case containing writing materials, and used in a similar manner. -- Writing lark (Zoology) , the European yellow-hammer; -- so called from the curious irregular lines on its eggs. [ Prov. Eng.] -- Writing machine . Same as Typewriter . -- Writing master , one who teaches the art of penmanship. -- Writing obligatory (Law) , a bond. -- Writing paper , paper intended for writing upon with ink, usually finished with a smooth surface, and sized. -- Writing school , a school for instruction in penmanship. -- Writing table , a table fitted or used for writing upon.

Written past participle of Write , v.

Wrizzle transitive verb To wrinkle. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Wroken obsolete past participle of Wreak . Chaucer.

Wrong obsolete imperfect of Wring . Wrung. Chaucer.

Wrong adjective [ Middle English wrong , wrang , adjective & noun , Anglo-Saxon wrang , noun ; originally, awry, wrung, from wringan to wring; akin to Dutch wrang bitter, Danish vrang wrong, Swedish vrång , Icelandic rangr awry, wrong. See Wring .]

1. Twisted; wry; as, a wrong nose. [ Obsolete] Wyclif (Lev. xxi. 19).

2. Not according to the laws of good morals, whether divine or human; not suitable to the highest and best end; not morally right; deviating from rectitude or duty; not just or equitable; not true; not legal; as, a wrong practice; wrong ideas; wrong inclinations and desires.

3. Not fit or suitable to an end or object; not appropriate for an intended use; not according to rule; unsuitable; improper; incorrect; as, to hold a book with the wrong end uppermost; to take the wrong way.

I have deceived you both; I have directed you to wrong places.

Shak.

4. Not according to truth; not conforming to fact or intent; not right; mistaken; erroneous; as, a wrong statement.

5. Designed to be worn or placed inward; as, the wrong side of a garment or of a piece of cloth.

Syn. -- Injurious; unjust; faulty; detrimental; incorrect; erroneous; unfit; unsuitable.

Wrong adverb In a wrong manner; not rightly; amiss; morally ill; erroneously; wrongly.

Ten censure wrong for one that writes amiss.

Pope.

Wrong noun [ Anglo-Saxon wrang . See Wrong , adjective ] That which is not right. Specifically: (a) Nonconformity or disobedience to lawful authority, divine or human; deviation from duty; -- the opposite of moral right .

When I had wrong and she the right.

Chaucer.

One spake much of right and wrong .

Milton.

(b) Deviation or departure from truth or fact; state of falsity; error; as, to be in the wrong . (c) Whatever deviates from moral rectitude; usually, an act that involves evil consequences, as one which inflicts injury on a person; any injury done to, or received from; another; a trespass; a violation of right.

Friend, I do thee no wrong .

Matt. xx. 18.

As the king of England can do no wrong , so neither can he do right but in his courts and by his courts.

Milton.

The obligation to redress a wrong is at least as binding as that of paying a debt.

E. Evereth.

» Wrongs, legally, are private or public . Private wrongs are civil injuries, immediately affecting individuals; public wrongs are crimes and misdemeanors which affect the community. Blackstone.

Wrong transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Wronged ; present participle & verbal noun Wronging .]

1. To treat with injustice; to deprive of some right, or to withhold some act of justice from; to do undeserved harm to; to deal unjustly with; to injure.

He that sinneth . . . wrongeth his own soul.

Prov. viii. 36.

2. To impute evil to unjustly; as, if you suppose me capable of a base act, you wrong me.

I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honorable men.

Shak.

Wrong-timed adjective Done at an improper time; ill-timed.

Wrongdoer noun
1. One who injures another, or who does wrong.

2. (Law) One who commits a tort or trespass; a trespasser; a tort feasor. Ayliffe.

Wrongdoing noun Evil or wicked behavior or action.

Wronger noun One who wrongs or injures another. Shak. " Wrongers of the world." Tennyson.

Wrongful adjective Full of wrong; injurious; unjust; unfair; as, a wrongful taking of property; wrongful dealing. -- Wrong"ful*ly , adverb -- Wrong"ful*ness , noun

Wronghead noun A person of a perverse understanding or obstinate character. [ R.]

Wronghead adjective Wrongheaded. [ R.] Pope.

Wrongheaded adjective Wrong in opinion or principle; having a perverse understanding; perverse. -- Wrong"head`ed*ly , adverb -- Wrong"head`ed*ness , noun Macaulay.

Wrongless adjective Not wrong; void or free from wrong. [ Obsolete] -- Wrong"less*ly , adverb [ Obsolete] Sir P. Sidney.

Wrongly adverb In a wrong manner; unjustly; erroneously; wrong; amiss; as, he judges wrongly of my motives. "And yet wouldst wrongly win." Shak.

Wrongness noun The quality or state of being wrong; wrongfulness; error; fault.

The best great wrongnesses within themselves.

Bp. Butler.

The rightness or wrongness of this view.

Latham.

Wrongous adjective [ Confer Middle English wrongwis . See Wrong , and confer Righteous .]

1. Constituting, or of the nature of, a wrong; unjust; wrongful. [ R.]

2. (Scots Law) Not right; illegal; as, wrongous imprisonment. Craig.