ppl. a. Also 4–6 wrethen, 5 -yne, -in, (?) wrethe. [ME. wrēðen, normal variant of wrĭðen, pa. pple. of wrīðen WRITHE v. Cf. WRITHEN ppl. a.]

1

  1.  = WREATHED ppl. a. 1.

2

  α.  a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 5526. All þe watir of þe werd [to him seemed] bot as a wrethen neddire.

3

1401–2.  Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 393. vj libr. de wrethyn candell, xs.

4

a. 1450.  Songs & Carols 15th C. (Warton Club), 85. My baselard haȝt a wrethin hafte.

5

1465.  Will of Pachett (Somerset Ho.). A wrethyne rynge of golde.

6

c. 1530.  in Gutch, Coll. Cur., II. 310. Great gilte Candilsteks costid withe wrethin shanks.

7

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 207 b. Veluet … fret with flowers of Siluer, and small twigges of wrethen worke.

8

a. 1600.  Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, iv. 5. Mercure with his wrethin wand.

9

1887.  Suppl. Jamieson, 280. Wrethin’ strae-rapes.

10

  β.  1568.  Bible (Bishops’), Exod. xxviii. 22. Chaynes of pure golde and wreathen worke.

11

1598.  Deloney, Jacke Newb., i. Wks. (1912), 7. The Bel-weather … by the force of his wreathen hornes … slew him.

12

1608.  Topsell, Serpents, 245. Many … are the Epithets which are giuen to Snakes,… as … Gorgonean, wreathen, slyding.

13

1611.  Bible, Exod. xxviii. 14. Thou shalt make … two chaines of pure gold…; of wreathen worke shalt thou make them.

14

1792.  Mass. Mag., Nov. Imagination very easily giving them [sc. stalactites] pedestals and chapiters, and even wreathen-work.

15

1871.  J. Hay, Pike County Ball. (1880), 154. Wreathen amulet Forged against sword-stroke.

16

1872.  Ruskin, Aratra Pentelici, 51. The wreathen work of its doors,… the foliage of its capitals. Ibid. (1875), Fors Clav., lviii. 288. The pierced fractional coins will only bear a chased wreathen fillet.

17

1877.  Blackmore, Erema, li. The glorious woods of wreathen gold … all were mine.

18

  Comb.  1796.  Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), II. 566. Wreathen-podded Whitlowgrass. [Grows in] Fissures of limestone rocks.

19

  2.  Formed or arranged by or as by twining or interweaving; entwined, intertwined.

20

1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VI. ix. § 21. 81. Their Oratory, built onely of wrethen wands.

21

1631.  Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 58. To build a Church or Oratorie of wreathen wands.

22

1713.  C’tess Winchilsea, Misc. Poems, 39. The Flowers … In wreathen Garlands dropt agen On Lucullus.

23

a. 1850.  in Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Monast. Orders (1852), 45. A church of wreathen wands.

24