1.
[syn: racking, wrenching]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wrench \Wrench\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wrenched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Wrenching.] [OE. wrenchen, AS. wrencan to deceive,
properly, to twist, from wrenc guile, deceit, a twisting.
????. See Wrench, n.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To pull with a twist; to wrest, twist, or force by
violence.
[1913 Webster]
Wrench his sword from him. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched
With a woeful agony. --Coleridge.
[1913 Webster]
2. To strain; to sprain; hence, to distort; to pervert.
[1913 Webster]
You wrenched your foot against a stone. --Swift.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
wrenching
adj 1: causing great physical or mental suffering; "a wrenching
pain" [syn: racking, wrenching]