writhe

Verb
Synonyms: wrestlewrigglewormsquirmtwist

WordNet 3.0

Verb (1)

  1. to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)“The prisoner writhed in discomfort”“The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace”Synonyms: wrestlewrigglewormsquirmtwist
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Writhe \Writhe\, v. i. To twist or contort the body; to be distorted; as, to writhe with agony. Also used figuratively. [1913 Webster]

After every attempt, he felt that he had failed, and writhed with shame and vexation. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

Writhe \Writhe\, v. t. [imp. Writhed; p. p. Writhed, Obs. or Poetic Writhen; p. pr. & vb. n. Writhing.] [OE. writhen, AS. wr[imac]?an to twist; akin to OHG. r[imac]dan, Icel. r[imac]?a, Sw. vrida, Dan. vride. Cf. Wreathe, Wrest, Wroth.] [1913 Webster]

1.To twist; to turn; now, usually, to twist or turn so as to distort; to wring. "With writhing [turning] of a pin." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Then Satan first knew pain, And writhed him to and fro.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
Her mouth she writhed, her forehead taught to frown.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
His battle-writhen arms, and mighty hands.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]

2.To wrest; to distort; to pervert. [1913 Webster]

The reason which he yieldeth showeth the least part of his meaning to be that whereunto his words are writhed.— Hooker.[1913 Webster]

3.To extort; to wring; to wrest. [R.] [1913 Webster]

The nobility hesitated not to follow the example of their sovereign in writhing money from them by every species of oppression.— Sir W. Scott.[1913 Webster]
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