Wring v.

Pa. t. and pa. pple. wrung. Forms: Inf. 1 wringan, 2–4 wringen, 4 wryngen, 5 -ene, -yn, wringin; 3–7 wringe (5 ringe), 4–6 wrynge, wryng, 4–5 wreng, 4– wring (6 Sc. wrink-, 7–8, 9 dial. ring). Pa. t. 1–9 (now dial.) wrang, 4–6 wrange (pl. 1 wrungon, 3–4 -en); 3–7 wrong, 3–6 wronge, 6 wroong, wroung (pl. 4 wrongen, 5 -on); 4– wrung (6 wrunge). Pa. pple. 1, 4 wrungen, 6 wrunge, 6– wrung (8 rung); 5–7 wrong, 5–6 wronge (4–6 ywrong, 4–5 y-, iwronge), wrongen, 5 wrounge, 6 wroung, wroong(e. Weak pa. t. 5–8 wringed; pa. pple. 6–7 wringed. [OE. wringan (wrang, wrungon; wrungen), = OFris. *wringa (WFris. wringe), OS. *wringan (in ûtwringan; MLG. wringen, LG. wringen, ringen), MDu. and Du. wringen, OHG. rinkan, ringan, ringen (MHG., G. ringen). Other grades of the stem wring- are represented by wrang WRONG a. and Goth. wruggō snare.]

  I.  1. trans. To press, squeeze or twist (a moist substance, juicy fruit, etc.), esp. so as to drain or make dry. Also transf. and in fig. context. (Cf. 14 b.)

c. 890.  Wærferth, trans. Gregory’s Dial., 250. Witodlice hit ʓelamp … þa þa Langbeardisce mæn wrungon eleberʓan on þære treddan.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xl. 11. Ic nam þa winberian & wrang on þæt fæt.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2054. Ðe beries ðor-inne [sc. a cup] me ðhuȝte ic wrong.

13[?].  K. Alis. (W.), 333. Herbes he tok … And stamped heom in a morter; And wrong hit [Laud MS. wronge it out] in a box.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 65. His faire steede … So swatte, þat men myghte him wrynge, His sydes were al blood.

c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., 28. Take Molberys, and wrynge a gode hepe of hem þorw a cloþe.

c. 1485.  E. E. Misc. (Warton Cl.), 75. Wrynge hit [sc. turnsole with glair] into a schelle.

1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 438. I haif a water spunge for wa,… Than wring I it full wylely.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 325. Protagenes portraied Venus with a sponge;… if once she wrong it, it would drop bloud.

1637.  Rutherford, Lett. (1671), 147. God is wringing grapes of red wine for Scotland.

1662.  R. Venables, Exper. Angler, vi. 65. Wash it [sc. moss] well…wring it very dry.

1747.  Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, xvii. 147. Strain them [sc. elderberries] through a coarse Cloth, wringing the Berries.

1799.  G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 263. Pour the rest of the milk to it,… then wring it through a cloth.

1865.  Swinburne, Chastelard, III. i. 97. That your face Seen through my sleep has wrung mine eyes to tears For pure delight in you.

  absol.  c. 1050.  in Techmer, Zeitschrift (1885), II. 123. Donne þu cyse habban wille, sete þonne þine twa handa togæþere bra[d]linga, swilce þu wringan wille.

  b.  To strain (juice, moisture, etc.) from a moist or wet substance by squeezing or torsion; to extract (fluid) from or out of something by pressure, etc. Occas. in fig. context. Also with advs., as forth, out (sense 14 a).

c. 888.  Ælfred, Boeth., v. § 2. Ne meaht þu win wringan on mide winter.

c. 1000.  Sax. Lecchd., I. 72. Ʒenim þære ylcan wyrte leaf,… wyl on wætere, & wring þæt wos.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. clxxxviii. (Bodl. MS.). Newe wyne þat is newe take oute of þe presse and wrong.

a. 1400.  Leg. Rood (1871), 138. Cristes Cros ȝit spac þis speche: Furst was I presse wyn to wringe.

1535.  Coverdale, Judges vi. 38. He wrange y^e dew out of the flese.

1576.  G. Baker, trans. Gesner’s Jewell of Health, 11 b. We … distill the lycour wrynged forth.

1631.  Anchoran, Comenius’ Gate Tongues, 69. Oyle is wringed and strained out of oliues.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 21 May 1645. A laundress wringing water out of a piece of linen.

1746.  Hervey, Medit., 42. The intolerable Pressure wrung Blood, instead of Sweat, from every Pore.

1857.  Ruskin, Pol. Econ., i. 17. You have to … wring the honey and oil out of the rock.

1888.  F. Hume, Mme. Midas, I. Prol. Wringing the water from his coarse clothing.

  transf.  1652.  Bell, trans. Luther’s Table Talk, xxxv. 381. He wringeth from me a bitter sweat.

  c.  transf. To force (tears) out of the eye, from a person, etc.; to squeeze out.

a. 1395.  Hylton, Scala Perf., I. lix. (W. de W., 1494). He … somtyme wryngeth a tere oute of his eye.

1592.  Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. xiii. 135. Art thou come … To wring more teares from Isabellas eies?

1602.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. v. The gripe of chaunce is weake to wring a teare From him.

1683.  Dryden & Lee, Dk. Guise, III. i. It wrings the Tears from Grillon’s Iron Heart.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar, xvii. It is not a small distress that can wring tears from these old eyes.

1815.  Milman, Fazio, I. i. ’Twere sin to charity To wring one drop of brine upon thy corpse.

1819.  Keats, Otho, III. ii. 221. A foolish dream that from my brow hath wrung A wrathful dew.

  2.  To twist, writhe or wrest (a person or thing); to force (a limb, etc.) round or about so as to cause a sprain or pain.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 196. Teoh him þa loccas, & wringe þa earan & þone wangbeard twicciʓe.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. VII. 162. Hongur … hente wastor bi þe mawe, And wrong him … be þe wombe.

c. 1435.  Torr. Portugal, 1014. By the nose I schall the wryng, Thow berdles gadlyng.

1481.  Caxton, Reynard, xl. (Arb.), 111. The foxe … grepe the wulf fast by the colyons. And he wronge hem so sore that [etc.].

c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 2196. Iche shall wrynge the … on the wryst.

1578.  H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 114. After they had chaffed his temples…, wrong hys little finger [etc.].

1612.  Shelton, Quix., I. IV. v. 338. He wrung her throat so straitly betweene both his armes, that [etc.].

1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Agonie, ii. There shall he see a man … wrung with pains.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 137, ¶ 3. Let me wring your Neck round your Shoulders.

1727–41.  [see TWIST v. 9 b].

1815.  Burney, Dict. Marine, To Wring a Mast, is to bend or strain it out of its natural position by setting the shrouds up too taught.

1816.  Scott, Bl. Dwarf, viii. It’s but wringing the head o’ him about at last.

1839.  Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 64. The memlook … began to wring it [sc. another’s ear] by little and little.

1881.  ‘Rita,’ My Lady Coquette, xix. I shall wring that Budd’s neck if he comes in my way.

  refl.  a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 171. The common people … wrong them selfes by the berdes.

  fig.  1900.  J. L. Allen, Increasing Purpose, iv. 39. His heart-strings were twisted tight and wrung sore this day.

  b.  To contract or contort (the features, etc.); to screw, distort, turn awry.

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 1062 (Camb.). Hore tok burdon & scrippe, & wrong his lippe.

1576.  Whetstone, Rocke of Regard, I. 83. She wroung her mouth awry.

1602.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. v. Would’st have me … wring my face with mimic action?

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 141. When he fauneth vpon a man he [sc. a dog] wringeth his skinne in the forehead.

1665.  J. Wilson, Projectors, I. i. 8. Do you not observe Sir, how hard he wrings his brows?

1808.  Scott, Marm., VI. xxx. 5. When pain and anguish wring the brow.

1885.  R. L. & F. Stevenson, Dynamiter, 184. The white face … wrung with unspoken thoughts.

  c.  To twist or force (the features) into or to a smile, etc.

1806.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (ed. 4), VII. xxxv. The necessity … of wringing your features into a smirk, in addressing a poltroon.

1827.  Hood, Mids. Fairies, xciv. To hope my solemn countenance to wring To idiot smiles!

  3.  To twist (a wet garment, cloth, etc.) in the hands, so as to force out water; also in recent use, to pass through a wringer. Occas. in fig. context. Also with away (quot. 1728).

c. 1300.  Havelok, 1233. He sholen hire cloþen washen and wringen.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XIV. 18. Dowel shal wasshen it [sc. a coat] and wryngen it þorw a wys confessour.

c. 1425.  MS. Sloane 73, fol. 201. [When] þat þou moystist it þus … loke þat þou wrynge it clene.

1471.  Caxton, Recuyell (Sommer), 494. After she toke oute the sherte appertly and wronge hit.

1530.  Palsgr., 785/2. I wringe … a clothe that is wete.

1598.  Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., XI. x. 152. The presses were wrung, the vessels flowed with wine.

1633.  Ford, ’Tis Pity, III. vii. My whole body is in a sweat, that you may wring my shirt; feel here.

1684.  Boyle, Porousn. Bod., iii. 11. To purify Quicksilver by tying it up strictly in a piece of kids … leather, and then wringing it hard to force it out.

1728.  Ramsay, Last Sp. Miser, vii. I never … wrung away my sarks with washing.

1732.  Swift, Lett. to J. Brandreth, 30 June. Take care of damps;… if a stocking happens to fall of a chair, you may wring it next morning.

1812.  J. Wilson, Isle of Palms, II. 283. Weeping, she wrings his dripping hair.

1874.  Blackie, Self-Cult., 51. A wet sheet, dipped in water, and well wrung.

  absol.  c. 1425.  in Rel. Ant., I. 275. A woman ys a worthy thyng: They dothe washe and dothe wrynge.

1573.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 173. Maids, wash well and wring well.

1635.  Life & Death Long Meg Westm., ii. 5. She had been … used … to hard labour, as to wash, to wring.

  b.  To clasp and twist (the hands or fingers) together, esp. in token or by reason of distress or pain.

  In very frequent use from c. 1300.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 43/303. He weop and criede and wrong is hondene.

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 980 (Camb. MS.). Hire fingres [Harl. hondes] he gan wringe.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 68. Wroþliche he wrong his fust.

c. 1375.  Cursor M., 23960 (Fairf.). Hir louelie fingris ho did wringe.

a. 1440.  Sir Eglam., 815. They weptyn faste and wrang ther hande.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 37. There had you seen … many a hande wrongen.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cclxx. 165/1. They wronge their handes and tare their heeres.

1611.  Beaum. & Fl., Knt. Burn. Pestle, IV. i. Song, Come you whose loves are dead,… Weep and wring Every hand and every head.

1659.  W. Chamberlayne, Pharon., III. II. 105. Her hands Wringing each other’s ivory joints.

1749.  Smollett, Regicide, IV. v. Wherefore dost thou wring thy tender hands?

1798.  Mar. Edgeworth, Pract. Educ. (1811), I. 104. Persons in violent grief wring their hands and convulse their countenances.

1845.  J. C. Mangan, German Anthol., I. 162. She wrang her hands till blood gushed forth.

1884.  F. M. Crawford, Rom. Singer, I. 89. He wrung his fingers together and breathed hard.

  transf.  1865.  Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. xii. The wind sawed…. The shrubs wrung their many hands.

  absol.  a. 1300.  Cursor M., 23960. I se him hang, I se hir wring.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 1212. Lat hym care and wepe and wryng and waille.

c. 1430.  Pol., Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 236. I wringe & wepe as þing for-lorn.

1587.  Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 251. She wrong and wept a pace.

  4.  Of a tight shoe or boot: To press painfully upon (the foot, toe, etc.); to hurt (a person) in this way; = PINCH v. 1 b.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. xi. 347. The schoon schulden be so narowe, that thei schulden needis wringe his sones feet into greet peyne.

1540.  Palsgr., Acolastus, IV. vii. X iij. Doth thy shoe wrynge the?

1580.  North, Plutarch, P. Æmylius (1595), 262. Is not this a goodly shooe?… yet … neuer a one of you can tell where it wringeth me.

1581.  Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. 11. Hee bought a paire of Bootes, whereof the one was so straite that it wrong his legge and foote verie sore.

1612.  Shelton, Quix., II. (1620), 223. I know where my shoo wrings me.

1678.  Otway, Friendship in F., IV. Quit her! as chearfully, as I would a Shooe that wrings me.

1770.  Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), I. 297/2. None knows where it [a shoe] wrings him but he that wears it.

1831.  R. Lower, Tom Cladpole, xxiv. I gun to feel … De haboot ring ma toe.

  b.  In figurative contexts; esp. in the proverbial phrase to know where the shoe wrings one, or variants of this: cf. PINCH v. 1 b.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Merch. T., 341. I woot best wher wryngeth me my sho. Ibid., Wife’s Prol., 492. He sat ful ofte and song Whan þat his shoo ful bitterly hym wrong.

1546.  J. Heywood, Prov., II. v. (1867), 57. My selfe can tell best, where my shooe doth wryng mee.

1584.  Lodge, Alarm, E iij b. We shall finde whereas their shooe wringeth them.

1602.  Middleton, Blurt, Master-Constable, A 4 b. I haue a shooe wrings me to th’ heart.

1654.  Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Wars Flanders, 253. Here it is that the King of Spains shoe wrings him.

1672.  Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 314. They see where the shoo wrings him.

  c.  absol., esp. in fig. or proverbial use.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 413. I see that others maye gesse where the shooe wringes, besides him that weares it.

1589.  Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 54. As he were a Coblers eldest sonne, [he] would by the laste tell where anothers shooe wrings.

1609.  Rowlands, Crew Kind Gossips, 4. Little do you know where my shoo wrings.

1658.  A. Fox, trans. Würtz’ Surg., II. xxv. 149. He that weareth the shooes knoweth where they wring.

1887.  Brighouse News, 23 July (E.D.D.). Every man knows best where his shoe wrings.

  5.  To cause anguish or distress to (a person, his heart, etc.); to vex, distress, rack.

  In freq. use from c. 1780, esp. with heart.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1531. So hard hym wrong of sharp desir þe peyne.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 91. If that thou fiele That love wringe thee to sore, Behold Ovide and take his lore.

a. 1535.  Fisher, Serm., Wks. (1876), 419. A penitent soule, that is sore prest and wrong with vtter shame.

1575.  Gascoigne, Dan Barth., Reporter, vi. In deede the rage which wrong him there, was rathe.

1614.  Wither, Juvenil., Epigr., v. 6. Where only thine own guiltinesse doth wring thee.

1648.  Hunting of Fox, 32. Every word hath its weight, and secretly wrings those lay-Levites.

1746.  Francis, trans. Horace, Art of Poetry, 158. For Nature … Wrings the sad Soul, and bends it down to Earth.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar, xxviii. Though he has wrung my heart,… that shall never inspire me with vengeance.

1831.  G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, III. ii. Even the sunbeam … seemed but given to wring him [sc. a prisoner] with the memory of sweets he could not taste.

1845.  J. C. Mangan, German Anthol., I. 161. Remorse may wring thy soul too late!

1884.  W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 79. I must tell you all, Howe’er it wring my heart.

  absol.  1553.  Ascham, Germany, 23. His talke is alwayes so accompanied with discression…, as he neither biteth with wordes, nor wringeth with deedes.

a. 1893.  Chr. G. Rossetti, Poems (1904), 215/1. O faces unforgotten! if to part Wrung sore, what will it be to re-embrace?

  b.  To affect (a person, etc.) with bodily pain, hurt or damage (sometimes spec. by torsion or pressure); to hurt, harm or injure. Now dial. or arch. (after Shakespeare).

c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 2047. Howe the gowte wryngeth me by the too!

1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Constrictus, The mouthe wrounge with the bytte.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 249. Wring not a horse on the withers, with a false saddle.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., I. 55. After they had first wrung their foreheads with twisted ropes.

1623.  St. Papers, Col., 217. [Stale cider] doth extraordinarily wring the belly.

1698.  Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 176. Being wrung by her Pain.

1711.  Lond. Gaz., No. 4886/4. Rung with the Fetters on the white Foot, and rung a little on the Shoulders.

1718.  Pope, Iliad, XVI. 195. When scalding Thirst their burning Bowels wrings.

1882.  N. & Q., 29 July, 94/1. My clothes wring me.

1887.  Kentish Gloss., 192. I wrung my shoulder with carrying a twenty-stale ladder.

  absol.  1575.  Gascoigne, Weedes, Compl. Gr. Knt. A peece which shot … so streight, It neyther bruzed with recule, nor wroong with overweight.

  fig. or in fig. context.  1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 387. For deny I wil not that I am wroung on the withers.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. i. 7. The poore Iade is wrung in the withers. [Cf. UNWRUNG ppl. a.]

1888.  E. Gosse, Congreve, 3. It wrung the withers of the poets of Collier’s day.

  c.  To distress or afflict (a person) by exaction, severity, etc.; to oppress, keep down.

1550.  Becon, Fortr. Faithful, c iiij. Thus y^e pore people be so wrounge of these ungentle gentlemen, y^t the selye soules are lyke unto dry haddockes.

1599.  in Fowler, Hist. C. C. C. (O.H.S.), 352. So as you [do not] … wring your Tenants in such sort for your private gain.

1613.  P’cess Eliz., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. III. 232. My Lorde, I have not bin forward to wringe you with requests.

1615.  Sylvester, Job Triumph., III. 537. The meanest Groom I saw, I feared so, I durst not wring, nor wrong, nor wrangle with.

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., II. 152. Bare existence, man, to live ordain’d, Wrings, and oppresses with enormous weight.

  † d.  To press or ply (a person) with argument or confutation. Obs. rare.

1567.  Harding, in Jewel, Def. Apol., 2. What doo Heretikes when they are vrged and wroonge, when by force of arguments they are straighted.

1646.  Trapp, Comm. John viii. 7. Thus our Saviour wrings those supercilious and censorious hypocrites.

  6.  To wrench or wrest out of position or relation; to cause to change place by turning or twisting. Const. with advs., as apart, asunder, or preps., as from, off, out of.

c. 1320.  Sir Tristrem, 3262. His stirops he made him tine, To grounde he him wrong.

1495.  Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XI. xiii. (W. de W.), 9 vi b. Thonder dystroyeth hye trees and wryngyth [MSS. roteþ] theym out of the grounde.

1535.  Coverdale, Lev. i. 15. The prest shal … wrynge the neck of it a sunder.

a. 1553.  Udall, Roister D., I. iv. He wrong a club … out of the hande of Belzebub.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xxv. (1592), 386. I will … wring a sunder the yron barres [= Isaiah xlv. 2].

1635.  Long Meg of Westminster, xx. Meg … did wring the stick out of his hands.

1699.  T. Allison, Voy. Archangel, 18. Our Rudder Head was wrung in peices.

a. 1784.  in Child, Ballads, III. 480/1. His neck in twa I wat they hae wrung.

1857.  Borrow, Romany Rye, xli. (1903), 257. My mouth being slightly wrung aside, and my complexion rather swarthy.

1883.  Stevenson, Treas. Isl., xi. I’ll wring his calf’s head off his body.

  fig. and in fig. context.  1548.  Udall, Erasm. Par., Pref. B j. Godly Counsaillours, whom … this wicked rable found meanes to wryng out of fauour.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 295. Now you haue my opinion, you must not think to wring me from it.

a. 1592.  [see WREST sb. 5 b].

1817.  Shelley, Rev. Islam, X. xli. Who the life from both their hearts can wring.

c. 1830[?].  Bryant, The Past, V. My spirit … struggles hard to wring Thy bolts apart.

1878.  Browning, La Saisiaz, 51. Each kindly wrench that wrung From life’s tree its inmost virtue.

  refl.  a. 1716.  South, Serm. (1744), VIII. 127. To wring themselves out of God’s hand by annihilation.

  b.  To bring out (words, etc.) with effort.

a. 1350.  in Relig. Lyrics 14th C. (1924), 34. Þou wringest mani wrang word Wiþ wanges ful wete.

1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Praise (No. 3), i. Lord, I will … speak thy praise,… Then will I wring it with a sigh or grone.

1820.  Keats, Ode to Psyche, 1. Hear these tuneless numbers, wrung By sweet enforcement and remembrance dear.

  7.  To acquire or gain (money, property, a right, etc.) by exaction or extortion; to wrest or wrench from or out of a person, etc.

a. 1300.  Sarmun, in E. E. P. (1862), 3. Þe wrecchis wringit þe mok so fast; up ham silf hi nul noȝt spend.

14[?].  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 583. Flecto, to wrynge mony.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 113. All which priuileges … they … do what they can to wrest and wring from us.

1594.  West, 2nd Pt. Symbol., § 215. Those offences … are committed when any … wringeth money or other things from another man.

1630.  R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 367. That Marquisate of Saluzzes … which Henry the fourth of France wrung from him.

1730.  Bailey (fol.), Extort, to wrest, wring or get out of one by force, threat or authority.

1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, vi. Hard hands have wrung from me my goods, my money, my ships.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxii. IV. 727. To wring taxes out of the distressed population.

1868.  Farrar, Silence & V., i. (1875), 15. The fields which the usurer has wrung from the orphan.

  absol.  1582.  [see WREST v. 4 b].

  fig. and transf.  1596.  Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 620. How hardly that Act of Parliament was wronge out of them.

1608–11.  Bp. Hall, Epist., I. Ep. Ded. It were well … if I could wring ought from my selfe not vnworthie of a iudicious Reader.

1828.  Carlyle, Misc., Burns, ¶ 31. They will wring from Fate another hour of wassail and good cheer.

1842.  J. Wilson, Chr. North (1857), I. 160. To wring from the very soil more than it could produce.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 464. The pressure which had wrung from him the only good acts of his whole reign.

  b.  To exact, extort or draw (an admission, consent, etc.) from or out of a person, etc.

  In frequent use from c. 1330.

c. 1444.  [see WRESTING vbl. sb. 2].

1581.  Lambarde, Eiren., II. vii. (1588), 213. At the common Law, Nemo tenebatur prodere seipsum, and then his fault was not to be wrung out of himselfe, but [etc.].

1642.  D. Rogers, Naaman, 41. The Lord doth not so … to wring from him some tearmes of homage.

1671.  Milton, Samson, 1199. [They] constrain’d the bride To wring from me … my secret.

1721.  Young, Revenge, II. i. I wrung a promise from him he would try.

1792.  Rogers, Pleas. Mem., I. 352. To wring the slow surrender from his tongue.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, vi. 79. I was determined no enemy should wring a complaint out of me.

1864.  G. A. Lawrence, Maurice Dering, II. 83. The gay dare-devilry of the man wrung from both … admiration.

1892.  Speaker, 3 Sept., 293/1. These are not admissions wrung by the energy of his opponents from Mr. Huxley.

  transf.  a. 1813.  Shelley, Falsehood & Vice, 73. The stifled moan Wrung from a nation’s miseries.

  fig.  1853.  Maurice, Proph. & Kings, xxv. 441. Wringing out of texts or symbols … the proof of some New Testament revelation.

  8.  To press, clasp or shake (a person’s hand); to press (a person) by the hand; to shake hands with.

1534.  More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1170/1. The one toke the other by the tip of the finger, for hand would there none be wrongen thorow the grate.

1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 333. So wringing hir by the hand, he ended.

1601.  [? Marston], Pasquil & Kath., III. (1878), 137. I’le … wring thy fingers with an ardent gripe.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 18 Aug. 1673. He wrung me by the hand.

1713.  Addison, Cato, I. iv. The good old King at parting wrung my hand.

1816.  Scott, Bl. Dwarf, xvii. Langley took his hand, and … wrung it hard.

1848.  Dickens, Dombey, i. Mr. Toots … wringing Walter by the hand.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, iii. He shook hands with Tom, wringing his hand harder than he knew.

  b.  To squeeze or compress together. rare^–1.

1603.  G. Owen, Pembrokeshire, i. (1891), 3. He Joyned in on Mappe … the [four] greate sheeres [= shires] … by reason whereof he was forced to wringe them … neere together.

  9.  a. To subject (something) to a writhing, wresting or turning movement; to press, drive or impel in this way. Occas. fig. or in fig. context. Also with preps., as in, into, upon.

13[?].  K. Alis., 2383 (Laud MS.). His spores he gynneþ in horse wrynge.

a. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn, xlix. 190. He wrang his fystes and brake the cordes al a sonder.

1565.  J. Hall, Crt. Vertue, 73 b. Or wexe they make scripture a nose, To turne and wryng it evry waye.

1582.  Mulcaster, Elementarie, Peroration (1925), 252. In tormenting the minde, and wringing it to the worst.

1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XIII. xxv. (1886), 270. If you wring a testor upon ones forehead, it will seeme to sticke, when it is taken awaie.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. ii. Wringing [folios wrieng] her waste, and thrusting out her chinne.

1610.  Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 135. It is a hint That wrings mine eyes too ’t.

1648.  Hexham, Wringh-aersen, to Wringe or Friggle the taile.

1760–2.  Goldsm., Cit. W., lxxix. They must … wring their figures into every shape of distress.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xxxv. And is it true, then,… that the bridegroom’s face was wrung round ahint him?

1862.  Mrs. Browning, Little Mattie, iii. Her lips you cannot wring Into saying a word more.

  transf.  c. 1489.  Caxton, Blanchardyn, vii. 28. [He] wringed his strock atte the pullyng out ayen, that he made of his swerde.

  b.  To wrest or twist (a writing, words, etc.); to strain the purport or meaning of; to deflect, pervert; = WREST v. 5.

[1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. V. 31. Wily-man and wittiman and waryn wrynge-lawe.]

1546.  Supplic. of Poore Commons (E.E.T.S.), 77. Wringyng & wrestynge the Scriptures.

1581.  [see WREST v. 5].

1606.  S. Gardiner, Bk. Angling, 109. By this wringing the Scripture and causing it to bleede.

1641.  Milton, Ch. Govt., V. By wringing the collective allegory of those seven Angels into seven single Rochets. Ibid. (1645), Tetrarch., 8. [God’s] commands and words … are not to be so strictly wrung, as [etc.].

  absol.  1540.  Coverdale, Confut. Standish (1547), d vij b. Thus make ye of gods holy scripture a shipmans hose, wresting and wringing to what purpose ye will.

1564.  [see WREST v. 5].

  c.  To turn or deflect (a matter) into or to something; to convert. ? Obs.

1524.  State Papers Hen. VIII., I. 152. To wryng and wreste the maters in to bettre trayne, if they walke a wrye.

1848.  L. Hunt, Jar Honey, p. xvii. (tr. Bacon), So are those doctrines best and sweetest which … are not wrung into controversies and common-places.

  † d.  To incline or dispose (a person); to bend or divert to something. Obs.

1528.  More, Dyaloge, III. Wks. 210/1. Our harte euer thinketh the iudgement wrong, that wringeth us to the worse.

1553.  Ascham, Germany, 6 b. Octauio was euermore wrong to the worse by many and sundry spites.

1579.  [see WREST v. 3].

  e.  To wreathe, twist or coil (something flexible); to wind or dispose in coils.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xvi. 50 b. Another great columne … in forme of three serpents, wrong one within another.

1597.  A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 29 b/1. Cause the patient gentlye to wring about his neck a table naptkinne or a towell.

1623.  trans. Favine’s Theat. Hon., IV. iii. 3. That is to say, a Serpent writhed or wrung together.

1837.  A. Tennent, Vis. Glencoe, 49. Some in coils their forms did wring, As when the deadly serpent’s spring Insures its victim’s doom.

1896.  ‘M. Field,’ Attila, IV. 107. She catches hold of her own veil and wrings it round her head.

  † 10.  refl. To wriggle or insinuate (oneself) into a place, favor, etc. Obs.

a. 1525.  Vergilius, in Thoms, E. E. Prose Rom., II. 27. The deuyll wrange hym selfe into the lytell hole ayen.

1592.  Nashe, P. Penilesse, B 4 b. They wring themselues into his good opinion ere he be aware.

1602.  Marston, Ant. & Mel., III. Niggard life Hath but one little, little wicket through. We wring our selves into this wretched world … to curse and raile.

1627.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Superbiæ Flagellum, D 7 b. These vipers … proudly make humility a screw, To wring themselues into opinions view.

  II.  With adverbs.

  11.  Wring down: To force, squeeze or press down; spec. to force down the throat.

1633.  Swedish Intelligencer, III. 23. [They] will eate you whole handfulls of raw Onyons … as familiarly as an Italian wrings downe sallets, or we apples.

1874.  T. Hardy, Far fr. Mad. Crowd, lii. There were the fellers round her wringing down the cheese [in the press].

  12.  Wring in: To insert, insinuate, or bring in with or as with a twisting movement. Chiefly fig.

1579.  Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 227. Maister Hesk, wold fain make Euthymius to speak for him, if he could tell how to wring him in.

1597.  [see WREST v. 1 c].

1599.  B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., II. iv. Who when they haue got acquainted with a strange word, neuer rest till they haue wroong it in.

1622.  Drayton, Poly-olb., xxi. 287. Giue me those Lines … In which things naturall be, and not in falsely wrong.

  13.  Wring off: To wrest or force off by twisting or turning round.

c. 1520.  Skelton, Magnyf., 1909. Of some I wrynge of the necke lyke a wyre.

1611.  Bible, Lev. i. 15. The Priest shall bring it vnto the altar, and wring off his head.

1726.  Swift, Gulliver, II. v. One of our servants … wrung off the bird’s neck.

1865.  Swinburne, Chastelard, IV. i. 167. Let one … Wring my crown off and cast it underfoot.

  14.  Wring out: a. To force out (moisture) by or as by twisting; to squeeze out. Also fig. and transf. Cf. OUTWRING v.

1340–70.  Alisaunder, 712. Hee wringes oute þe wet wus.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 2527, Phillis. To meche truste wel may I pleyne … on ȝoure teris falsely out i-wronge.

1388.  Wyclif, Isaiah xvi. 10. He that was wont to wringe out, schal not wrynge out wyn in a pressour.

c. 1420.  Liber Cocorum (1862), 50. Þen grynde tansy, þo iuse owte wrynge.

c. 1450.  Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.), 33. Gedeon wronge out the dewe.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 40 b. He that bloweth his nose ouermuche, shall wringe out bloude.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxvii. With that the fellow … wrang out teares.

1612.  S. Rid, Art of Jugling, E 3 b. So (with a little sponge in your hand) you may wringe out blood or wine.

1624.  Wotton, Archit., 111. A sturdie woman, washing and winding of linnen clothes,… wrings out the water.

1743.  Blair, Grave, 328. From stubborn shrubs Thou wrung’st their shy retiring virtues out.

1816.  J. Wilson, City of Plague, II. i. 196. Such return Wrings out the tears from my old wither’d heart.

  transf.  1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxxvi. (Bodl. MS.). Colde aier … is ywronge oute [L. exprimitur] and idrawe to þe vtter parties.

  b.  To strain (a wet fabric, etc.) with a twisting motion, so as to press out most of the moisture. Also const. of (the liquid in which the thing has been wetted).

13[?].  [see 1].

1388.  Wyclif, Judges vi. 38. Whanne the flees was wrongun out, he fillide a pot with deew.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., II. 417. [After it has been] so steped xix dayes, Wrynge out the mirte [= myrtle berries] & clense hit.

1561.  Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 23. Wet a long cloth,… wringe it well oute.

1576.  G. Baker, trans. Gesner’s Jewell of Health, 11 b. We wring out … the thyngs infused.

1676.  Wiseman, Surg., II. ix. 191. With a Compress wrung out as is prescribed.

1771.  Mrs. Haywood, New Present for Maid, 268. Then wring them out of those suds.

1848.  Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, viii. Just help me wring these out, and then I’ll take ’em to the mangle.

1896.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 419. A large towel wrung out of cold water.

  c.  To get or fetch out (something) with a wrenching movement; to wrench or wrest out.

c. 1420.  Wycliffite Bible, 2 Sam. xxiii. 21 (MS. Bodl. 296). He wrong out þe spere fro þe hond.

  d.  To express or bring out with effort. (Cf. 6 b.)

1402.  Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 106. Oft, Dawe, in thi writtyng, thou wryngist out contradiccion.

1831.  Lamb, Elia, II. Newspapers 35 Years ago. We were wringing out coy sprightliness for the [Morning] Post.

  e.  To obtain or draw (something) from another by pressure, application or art; to extract, elicit, bring out.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 118 b. Of all these thynges can they [sc. merchants] wrynge out [L. elicere] golde and syluer, to the wonderfull losse of people.

1591.  Lyly, Endym., V. iii. Marking … my sighes,… by questions [he] wrunge out that, which was readie to burst out.

1598.  Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., XV. v. 228. Let false praise, and wroong out by praiers be restrained.

1602.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., II. v. Present thy guilt, As if twere wrung out with thy conscience gripe.

1674.  N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 90. That which claws away world from about them, would, ’tis like, wring out their Planethood from within them.

1833.  I. Taylor, Fanat., ii. 38. The gratification … is wrung out from the very torments of the heart.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xix. IV. 287. In order to wring out from them the names of their employers.

1879.  Browning, Martin Relph, 121. He wrung their pardon out.

  † f.  To expel or depose (a person) from position or office; to thrust out. Obs.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 174 b. After he had wronge oute [L. eliserat] Mathew Helde … he … placed [another] … in his rome.

1631.  Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 232. In which office he continued, vntill hee was wrung out by Wolsey.

  15.  Wring up: a. To pull up with a twist; to wrench up.

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., II. 185. The wedis with an hond most vp be wronge. [Cf. upwring, UP- 4 a].

  b.  To squeeze, press or compact by torsion; to twist or screw up.

c. 1420.  Liber Cocorum (1862), 14. Take almondes, bray hem, wryng hom up.

c. 1440.  in Househ. Ord. (1790), 442. Take parsel, and grinde hit, and wringe hit up with egges thrugh a streynour.

1885.  C. G. W. Lock, Workshop Receipts, Ser. IV. 244. Wring the book up tightly in the press.

1891.  T. Hardy, Tess, iii. The very white frock … which had been wrung up and ironed by her mother’s own hands.

  c.  Mining. In passive. Of a lode: To become diminished or dwindled.

1839.  De la Beche, Rep. Geol. Cornwall, etc. xi. 343. By continuing the workings through the space so wrung-up.

1855.  [J. R. Leifchild], Cornwall, 143. Sometimes the lode … becomes ‘wrung up,’ or impoverished.

  III.  intr. † 16. To flow or run out under pressure; to issue. Obs.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 322. Al þet fule wrusum scheaweð him, & wringeð ut biuoren al þe wide worlde.

a. 1240.  Wohunge, in O. E. Hom., I. 281. Þat te blod wrang ut at tine finger neiles.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11700. I wil þat vte þe water wring.

c. 1400[?].  Emare, 881. The teres out of hys yen gan wryng.

a. 1450.  Northern Passion (D), 1880. Þe bloode a non began out to springe And þan þe watir after to wringe.

  † b.  To struggle or force a way out. Also fig.

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, 2110. Thus oute at holes gunne wringe Euery tydynge streght to Fame.

a. 1525.  Vergilius, in Thoms, E. E. Prose Rom., II. 26. There was a lytell hole, and therat wrange the deuyll out like a yeel.

1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., III. xvi. 51. Little holes where a flie can scarselie wring out.

  c.  Mining. With out. (See quot. and 15 c.).

1855.  [J. R. Leifchild], Cornwall, 91. Sometimes the schist so abounds in the lode, that the quartzose part disappears altogether, or is only continued in minute strings. In such a case, the lode is said to have dwindled away, or to have wrung out.

  † 17.  To suffer or sustain twisting, wrenching or turning. Obs.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1368. Þe keiser … bed … ba binden ham swa, þe fet & te honden, þet ha wrungen aȝein.

  b.  To be engaged in, to perform the action of, writhing or twisting; esp. of the hands.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 85. His body was to-bolle for wratthe,… And wryngynge he ȝede with þe fiste.

c. 1435.  Torr. Portugal, 1690. Fore his men pursued a dere, To his castell,… That doth my hondys wring, This Giaunt hym toke.

a. 1450.  Myrc, Par. Pr., 780. Koghe þow not þenne, þy þonkes, Ny wrynge þou not wyth þy schonkes.

a. 1480[?].  Piers of Fulham, 143, in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 7. A gentyll byrd takyn can no defense, Save wrastyll and wrynge with the tale a lyte.

1546.  Supplic. Poore Commons (E.E.T.S.), 69. When they sawe the worlde som what lyke to wrynge on the other syde, they denyed it.

1604.  E. T., Case is altered, C ij b. His wife with her handes wringing entertaines him with a weeping.

1682.  Bunyan, Holy War, 153. Mr. Weteyes went with hands wringing together.

1822.  J. Edmeston, Death, iii. in Sacred Lyrics, III. 40.

  † 18.  To fling away; to rush precipitately. Obs.

c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 2557. Richard the whiles away he wronge, Thile thai were alle dismayede.

  19.  To twist the body in struggling or striving; to struggle with or strive against something; to contend, labor or endeavor earnestly.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, V. v. 168. Arthur weltred and wrong that he was other whyle vnder and another tyme aboue.

1489.  [see WRESTLE v. 2 b].

1548.  P. Nicols, Godly New Story, E iij b. Some wring & wrest to go backe agayn into Egypt.

1556.  J. Heywood, Spider & Fly, i. 59. The more he [sc. a fly] wrange, the faster was he wrapt [in the web].

1570.  Drant, Two Serm., K vj. Jannes and Mambres wrong and shouldered at the truth.

1791.  [W. Beckford], Pop. Tales of Germans, II. 123. Violent convulsion fits shewed that they were wringing with death.

1837.  Carlyle, Misc. (1857), IV. 114. With the many-headed coil of Lernean serpents … [Hercules] wrestled and wrang … for life or death.

  b.  To twist, turn or struggle in pain or anguish; to writhe.

c. 1485.  Digby Myst. (1882), III. 1409. Swyche a cramp on me sett is,… I ly and wryng.

1596.  Harington, Metam. Ajax (1814), 45. He … looked as if he had been wringing hard on a close-stool.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., III. vi. 79. He wrings at some distresse.

1633.  Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., lxix. 167. How is it [sc. a worm] vexed with the scorching beames, and wrings up and down!

1789.  [see WRINGLE v. 2].

1843.  Carlyle, Past & Pr., III. i. In hydra-wrestle, giant ‘Millocracy’ … wrestles and wrings in choking nightmare.

  c.  To suffer or undergo grief, pain, punishment, etc. (for something).

1565.  J. Hall, Crt. Vertue, 134 b. None but the poore Doth wrynge therfore, And suffer the distres.

1586.  Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 22. The shoemaker … hath so scanted his shoe that his foote wringeth therewith.

1608.  Chapman, Byron’s Conspiracy, I. i. Such as are impatient of rest; And wring beneath some priuate discontent.

1760–72.  H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 28. My heart wrings with regret.

1831.  [R. Lower], Tom Cladpole, cxlvi.

1882.  N. & Q., 17 June, 468/2. I took it [sc. a feather bed] away,… because he would not wring so [i.e., have such bed-sores].

  20.  † a. To set upon a person with hostile language. Obs.

1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 334. Whereunto tendeth all the endeuour of those men, whome Osorius here wringeth vpon [L. oppugnat] so sharpely.

  b.  To carry on wringing or torture. rare^–1.

1821.  Byron, Two Foscari, I. i. Let them wring on; I am strong yet. Guard. Confess, And the rack will be spared you.

  † 21.  To associate, or join hands, with another. Obs. rare.

1580.  Lupton, Sivqila, 109. Which [bribe] belyke you thought that my handes did so tickle to touche, that I would wring with the wrong and flee from the truth.

  Hence † Wringed ppl. a., wrung; squeezed (out).

1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 50. Wee wer al inueigled, with wringd tears nicetye blended.

a. 1600[?].  Roman Charity, in A. Philips, Coll. Old Ball., II. 142. With wringed Hands, and bitter Tears, These Words pronounced she.

a. 1680.  Charnock, Attrib. God (1682), 637. ’Tis as if Divine Goodness did kneel down to a Sinner with wringed Hands.