[f. WRY v.2 + -ING1.]
1. The action of twisting, wringing or writhing; an instance of this.
1580. Blundevil, Horsemanship, Diseases, clix. 68 b. The taint being made somwhat full, with continuall turning and wrieng of it.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, II. xiv. A certaine wrying I had of my necke.
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, Dudley’s Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 42. The motion and wryinge of his mouth.
1611. Cotgr., Tortuement, a crooking,… wrying, writhing.
1888. G. Gissing, Life’s Morning, III. xx. 161. Wilfrid [spoke] with a little wrying of the lips.
† 2. The action of wresting or perverting. Obs.
1562. Winȝet, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 20. We allegeit na thing … bot sinceirlie the expres Word of God, but wrysting, wrying, gloissing, or cloking.
a. 1598. Rollock, Passion, xxv. (1616), 237. We must not thinke, Brethren, that this is any wrying and wresting of the old Scripture.
† 3. The action of deviating or turning from a course, etc.; straying. Obs.
1592. Babington, Notes on Gen. iii. 10. Wryings and turnings from the matter will not serue, minsings and shiftings before hym were neuer currant. Ibid. (1604), Notes on Exod. iii. § 18. How hard it is to leaue a wonted wrying from the right way.
