1. trans. To twine or twist together; to plait, interlace, interweave.
1616. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. iii. Intwine … the flesh-like Columbine With Pinckes.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 174. But further way found none, so thick entwin’d, As one continu’d brake.
1712. Budgell, Spect., No. 425, ¶ 3. The Graces with their Arms intwined within one another.
1772. Sir W. Jones, Poems, Solima. Where bloom intwin’d the lily, pink, and rose.
1801. Southey, Thalaba, III. xviii. Patiently the Old Man Entwines the strong palm-fibres.
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., II. 281. Entwine their withered arms ’gainst wind and weather.
b. intr. for refl.
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xiii. (1668), 92. There they entwine in the dearest embraces.
a. 1771. Stanzas, in P. Fletcher’s Pisc. Ecl. (1771), iii. st. 15, note. Fly and entwine amid those locks of gold.
1849. S. R. Maitland, Illustr. and Enquiries, I. 76. Two serpents, who rear up and entwine in the light of a candle stick.
c. To form by twining; to weave.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, I. 994 (J.).
| Nor pass unprais’d the Vest and Veil Divine, | |
| Which wand’ring Foliage and rich Flow’rs entwine. |
a. 1743. Savage, Valentine’s Day, Wks. 1777, II. 218. For him may Love the myrtle wreath entwine.
d. fig.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. i. This opinion, though false, yet entwined with a true.
1613. Donne, Epith. Ct. Palatine & Lady Eliz. You two have one way left yourselves t’entwine Besides this bishop’s knot.
1684. Charnock, Attrib. God (1834), I. 10. It [the belief of a God] is so entwined with reason.
1829. I. Taylor, Enthus., x. (1867), 287. The [Christian] doctrine is entwined with the [English] language.
1868. Stanley, Westm. Ab., Pref. p. xi. The murder of Becket … was inseparably entwined with the whole structure of the building.
2. To wreathe or encircle (an object) with (another); to wreathe (the one) about, round (the other). Also intr. for refl.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 625. It is not true … that they entwine their bodies with the entrails of cattle.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb. (1861), 182. No more entwines with flowers his shining sword.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., vii. (1876), 137. Trees intwined with creepers. Ibid., xx. 454. The pepper-vine … intwining round its trunk.
1874. Boutell, Arms & Arm., iv. 61. A vine-branch entwined about a rod or staff.
b. fig.
1835. Browning, Paracelsus, 132. Tangle and entwine mankind with error.
1843. Neale, Hymns for Sick, 31. In earthly joys entwined, I had forgot The things above.
1848. trans. Mariotti’s Italy, II. iii. 75. Schiller entwined himself round the heart.
1874. Sayce, Compar. Philol., viii. 302. Similarity of name or local celebrity may cause a myth to entwine itself about some personage or event of actual history.
3. To clasp as a twining plant; to enfold, embrace. Also fig.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., II. xxxv. 25. Divided flames, the iron sides entwining.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Affliction, ii. Thy glorious houshold-stuffe did me entwine.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 512. His Armes clung to his Ribs, his Leggs entwining Each other.
1761. Beattie, Hares, 94, Poems 55.
| The flowering thorn self-taught to wind | |
| The hazle’s stubborn stem entwin’d. |
1832. Tennyson, Miller’s Dau., xxix. True wife, Round my true heart thine arms entwine.
1878. Masque Poets, 36. Let my arm your waist entwine.
Hence Entwinement, the action of entwining; the state of being entwined; also concr. Entwining vbl. sb., the action of the verb ENTWINE. Entwining ppl. a., that entwines.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1693), 81. That it might be like a Mixture of Roses and Wood-binds in a sweet Entwinement.
1834. Sir F. B. Head, Bubbles fr. Brunnens, 307. No foot tore asunder the entwinement.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 193. The unthinkable care and forecast in all its [the world’s] evennesses and entwinings.
1738. Glover, Leonidas, III. 222. Among the intwining branches of the groves.
1821. Shelley, Prometh. Unb., I. 148. I feel Faint like one mingled in entwining love.
