writhe

writhe [rahyth] SynonymsWord Origin verb (used without object), writhed, writh·ing.

1. to twist the body about, or squirm, as in pain, violent effort, etc.
2. to shrink mentally, as in acute discomfort.

verb (used with object), writhed, writh·ing.

3. to twist or bend out of shape or position; distort; contort.
4. to twist (oneself, the body, etc.) about, as in pain.

noun

5. a writhing movement; a twisting of the body, as in pain.

Origin of writhe before 900; Middle English writhen (v.), Old English wrīthan to twist, wind; cognate with Old Norse rītha to knit, twist; akin to wreath, wry Related formswrith·er, nounwrith·ing·ly, adverbCan be confusedwraith wreath wreathe writheSynonyms for writhe 1. thresh, flail, contort, wriggle. British Dictionary definitions for writher writhe verb

1. to twist or squirm in or as if in pain
2. (intr) to move with such motions
3. (intr) to suffer acutely from embarrassment, revulsion, etc

noun

4. the act or an instance of writhing

Derived Formswrither, nounWord Origin for writhe Old English wrīthan; related to Old High German rīdan, Old Norse rītha. See wrath, wreath, wrist, wroth Word Origin and History for writher writhe v.

Old English wriðan “to twist or bend,” earlier “to bind or fetter,” from Proto-Germanic *writhanan (cf. North Frisian wrial, Old High German ridan, Old Norse riða, Middle Swedish vriþa, Middle Danish vride), from PIE *wreit- “to turn, bend” (see wreath). Related: Writhed; writhing.