Writhe
Pronunciation
- IPA: /raɪð/
- Rhymes: -aɪð
Origin
Middle English writhen, from Old English wrīþan, from Proto-Germanic *wrīþanÄ… 'to twist, turn' (cf. Old High German rÄ«dan 'to turn', Old Norse rÃða 'to wind'), from Proto-Indo-European (compare Lithuanian riÄ“sti 'to unbend, wind, roll').
Full definition of writhe
Verb
- (transitive) To twist, to wring (something).
- (transitive) To contort (a part of the body).
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.17:Cicero (as I remember) had gotten a custome to wryth his nose, which signifieth a naturall scoffer.
- (intransitive) To twist or contort the body; to be distorted.
- 2011, October 1, Phil McNulty, Everton 0 - 2 Liverpool, The game was engulfed in controversy when Rodwell appeared to win the ball cleanly in a midfield challenge with Suarez. The tackle drew an angry response from Liverpool's players- Lucas in particular as Suarez writhed in agony - but it was an obvious injustice when the England Under-21 midfielder was shown the red card.