Definitions for: Writhe

[v] to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (esp. when struggling); "The prisoner writhed in discomfort."; "The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace."

Webster (1913) Definition: Writhe, v. t. [imp. Writhed; p. p. Writhed, Obs. or
Poetic Writhen; p. pr. & vb. n. Writhing.] [OE. writhen,
AS. wr[=i]?an to twist; akin to OHG. r[=i]dan, Icel. r[=i]?a,
Sw. vrida, Dan. vride. Cf. 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, v. i.
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.

Synonyms: squirm, twist, worm, wrestle, wriggle

See Also: move, wrench

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