(a) To twist and squeeze (a wet sponge, garment, fleece, etc.) so as to express the liquid from it, wring; also, in hyperbole: wring dry (a sweaty horse); ~ oute; (b) to press (fruit, herbs, raw meat, etc.) so as to force out the juice or fluid, crush;—also without obj.; ?also, grind (sth.); with partitive o (of) phrase: crush some of (sth.); ~ up, crush (sth.) up; (c) to squeeze juice from grapes [quot. a1425(c1395), 1st occurrence)]; press or squeeze (juice, oil, fluid, etc.) out of a fruit or other part of a plant; express (liquid) from a moist or wet substance;—also without obj.; ~ oute; ~ awei, press out (blood) from raw meat; (d) ~ ful, to fill (a vessel) full (of juice or liquid) by squeezing; (e) to strain (a moist or wet substance, a liquid), drain [sometimes difficult to distinguish from (b) and (c)]; ~ oute; ~ thurgh, strain (sth.) through (a strainer, cloth, etc.); also fig.;—also without obj.; (f) to dry (sb.) off after a washing; also in fig. context; washen and ~; (g) in fig. phrases: ~ contradiccioun, to express with effort a contradiction; ~ moneie, ~ oute godes, exact or extort money (goods), put the squeeze on for; ~ teres (water), squeeze out tears, weep; ~ word, force out words, speak with effort.

Of a liquid, fluid, etc.: to issue, flow as if expressed; also in fig. context; ~ oute, flow out, gush out; fig. of tidings: rush forth, pour out; ben wringinge of water, be flowing with water, be inundated with water; wringinge ablode, of a finger: flowing with blood; wringinge wet, sopping wet, wringing wet.

(a) To squeeze (a part of the body), press on, pinch; also in proverbs; (b) to hold on to (sth.) avariciously.

(a) Of a spear shaft: to twist in motion so as to miss the mark, veer; (b) of a person: to writhe or squirm in discomfort, distress, grief, etc.; of a person, a bird: twist and turn in a struggle; ~ and wepen (writhen), weilen (wepen) and ~, etc.; ~ with shankes, twist around with (one’s) legs, fidget; (c) of the hands: to press and twist rapidly together as an outward sign of distress, sorrow, etc.; also, of a person: wring the hands; ppl. wringinge as adj.: twisting rapidly together; (d) to press and twist (the hands, fingers, fists) together rapidly in agitation, distress, grief, etc.; wring (one’s hands); also, rub (one’s eyes) with a twisting motion of the fist or fingers; ppl. wrongen as adj.: pressed and twisted rapidly together; (e) to curl (one’s lip), contort; ppl. wrongen, of a bodily structure: twisted, convoluted.

In phrase: wrongen touail, ?a towel having a twisting pattern woven into the fabric; ?a twilled towel as opposed to a plain one.

To torment (sb.) physically or emotionally; cause physical pain to (the body).

(a) To twist away, break away, escape; ~ awei; (b) to give (sb.) a twist of the body; twist (sb. by the nose); (c) to wrench (sth. out of someone’s hand), wrest; pull up (weeds), uproot; also, refl. & fig. tear oneself (from God’s service); ~ oute (up).

(a) To throw (sb.) down with a twisting motion;—also without obj.; also, glossing L fligare: ?strike (sb.) down; ~ him wrenches, fig. ?hurl wiles at him, i.e., attack him with wiles; (b) to thrust (spurs into a horse) with a twisting motion, twist.

Fig. To pervert (the law);—used in allegorical name.

?To create a vaulted or curved form over (sth.) [glossing L camerare]; also, ?curve (sth.) [glossing L sinuare].

In surname.