Middle English Dictionary Entry
wrench n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | wrench n.(1) Also wrenche, wrinke, (N & NEM) wrenk(e, (K) wranch- & (early) wrenc, wreinch & (in surname) wrenth & (error) wrenh; pl. wrenches, etc. & wrenche, (early) wrenchen, (SWM) wrænches & (error) wernches. |
| Etymology | OE wrenc |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. miswrench n.
1.
(a) A trick, wile; a deception; a stratagem; also, a deceptive or hidden aspect [quot. ?1406];
(b) guile, deceit; also, deceitfulness [sometimes difficult to distinguish from (a), and vice versa, when the form is wrenche]; ~ ivel, fel (lithere, wikkede) ~; womman ~;
(c) in proverb and prov. expressions;
(d) pratte ~, a trick, a deception; also, guile;
(e) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Þurh his micele wrences ða be iæt he þone ærce biscoprice of Besencun.
- 1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1131 : Nu him behofed þet he crape in his mycele codde in ælc hyrne gif þær wære hure an unwreste wrenc þet he mihte get beswicen anes Crist & eall Cristene folc.
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)189 : Þe fleshliche lustes…fondeð hire a fele wise mid swikele wrenchen.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)2/6 : We ahen wearliche to biwiten us seoluen wið þe unwiht of helle & wið his wernches [Tit: wrenches].
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)81/48 : Þu wiþsoke þene deofel…his wrænches and his wieles þærto.
- a1250 Mon may longe (Mdst A.13)15 : Ne mai strong ne starch ne kene a-ȝlye deth-is wiþer-clench…vox and ferlich is þe wreinch [vr. wrenh].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)949 : Heora eiþer wilnada oðer to wælden, mid wiȝeleden, mid wrenchen, mid wunderliche strengðen.
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)468/150 : Þe deuel hadde gret onde Þat þe gost scholde of pyne come: his wrenches he gan fonde.
- c1300 SLeg.Kenelm (Hrl 2277)109 : Þis liþere quene biþoȝte hire of alle liþer wrenche, For me saiþ þere nis no felonye þat womman ne can biþenche.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)5855 : Gret wille he hadde him to sle; Ac Gij him werd wiþ mani wrenche.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)101/2238 : Þis was on of wommannes wrenche.
- 1372 ME Verse in Grimestone PB (Adv 18.7.21)p.19 : Mundus, with is wrenchis and is welis-ȝerningge.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1081 : Hise wily wrenches thow ne mayst nat flee.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1224/28 : Þe wolf…deceyuen scheep more wiþ gyle and wrenches þan wiþ might and strengþe.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.2 : Mani wyle and wrenk he can.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)378 : Sum folk in this cas dreeden more offense Of man for wyly wrenches of the lawe Than he dooth eithir god or conscience.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1360 : Þe world…ledes a man with wrenkes and wyles And at the last it hym bygyles.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)273/67 : He tolde nevir tale þat to me was tendand, But with wrynkis and with wiles to wend me my weys.
- c1450(?a1400) Quatref.Love (Add 31042)420 : When all [is] vmbsett with water and with fyre, Þer may no wrenke ne no wyle wysse vs to flye.
- a1480(c1450) Barlaam (2) (Peterh 257)30/1033 : Al his wrenchis failen by þe vertu of Cryst Iesu.
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)68 : With reconsiliacioun so made, she ordeyned newe guyles and wrenches of advowtrie.
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)332/316 : At þe laste huy worþeth bi-traid with heore feolle wrenche.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.3 : He was stronge adrad ȝut of wommanes wrenche.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2924 : Of is luþer wrenche…Four hondred & four score mid treson he slou þere.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11053 : It was euere þe quene þoȝt so muche so heo miȝte þenche Mid conseil oþer mid sonde oþer mid wimman wrenche.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)16/424 : Ȝe sschette þe dore and set him on benche; Wil ȝe nou ihere of wommannes wrenche?
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)57/1608 : Þe fend hyt was þat schente hyt al Myd gyle and hys abette, Wrancheuel.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.58 : Men sauh on þe kynge’s side þer was no gile, no wrenke.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.246 : For falshed & for wrenk he forsuore þe land.
- c1500 Castle Love(3) (Ashm 61)215 : The ij lawys…he held neuer wiþouten les, In whom was se oure wekyd wrynke.
c
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)173/28 : Moni mon abit forte schriuen him aðet te nede tippe; Ah ofte him liheð þe wrench [Tit: lihen hise wrenches].
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Mdst A.13)89/156 : Maniman weneþh þath he wene ne þarf longes liues and him sal liȝen þe wrench.
- a1250 Mon may longe (Mdst A.13)2 : Man mei longe him liues wene, ac ofte him liþet [read: liyet] þe wreinch.
- c1275 Ken.Serm.(LdMisc 471)222/275 : Man mai longe liues wene and ofte him legheþ se wrench.
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.47 : Mani man weneþ…longe to liven, and him lieþ þe wrench.
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)526/320 : Atte laste hi schulle spurne mid here owe wrenche.
- c1350 Mon may longe(Arun 57)2 : Man may longe his lyues wene and ofte him lyeȝeþ his wrench.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)42 : Elene…Paris Alixandre mid pret-wrenche bi-won.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2644 : Wise men…ðohten bi-pechen Belin: mid heore præt-wrenchen.
e
- (1176) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames393 : Alnodus Wrench.
- (1199) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames393 : Edwin Wrench.
- (a1205) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702)79 : Godefridus Wrenche.
- (1279-80) Pipe R.Chs.in LCRS 92141 : De Rogero Wrench.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1056 : Willmo. le Wrenth.
- c1383 Reg.Gaunt in RHS ser.3.57 ()330 : Johan Wrenche.