1.
[syn: wreath, garland, coronal, chaplet, lei]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wreath \Wreath\ (?; 277), n.; pl. Wreaths. [OE. wrethe, AS.
wr[=ae][eth] a twisted band, fr. wr[imac][eth]an to twist.
See Writhe.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Something twisted, intertwined, or curled; as, a wreath of
smoke; a wreath of flowers. "A wrethe of gold." --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
[He] of his tortuous train
Curled many a wanton wreath. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. A garland; a chaplet, esp. one given to a victor.
[1913 Webster]
Conquest doth grant
He dear wreath to the Grecian combatant. --Chapman.
[1913 Webster]
Far back in the ages,
The plow with wreaths was crowned. --Bryant.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Her.) An appendage to the shield, placed above it, and
supporting the crest (see Illust. of Crest). It
generally represents a twist of two cords of silk, one
tinctured like the principal metal, the other like the
principal color in the arms.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Wreathe \Wreathe\, v. t. [imp. Wreathed; p. p. Wreathed;
Archaic Wreathen; p. pr. & vb. n. Wreathing.] [See
Wreath, n.] [Written also wreath.]
[1913 Webster]
1. To cause to revolve or writhe; to twist about; to turn.
[Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
And from so heavy sight his head did wreathe.
--Spenser.
[1913 Webster]
2. To twist; to convolve; to wind one about another; to
entwine.
[1913 Webster]
The nods and smiles of recognition into which this
singular physiognomy was wreathed. --Sir W.
Scott.
[1913 Webster]
From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve
Down dropped. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
3. To surround with anything twisted or convolved; to
encircle; to infold.
[1913 Webster]
Each wreathed in the other's arms. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Dusk faces with withe silken turbants wreathed.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
And with thy winding ivy wreathes her lance.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
4. To twine or twist about; to surround; to encircle.
[1913 Webster]
In the flowers that wreathe the sparkling bowl,
Fell adders hiss. --Prior.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
wreath
n 1: flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage
or flowers for ornamental purposes [syn: wreath,
garland, coronal, chaplet, lei]