Obs. Pa. t. threngde. [Early ME. þrengen, wk. vb.; in form a factitive from THRING v.:—OTeut. *þrangian (cf. MHG. dręngen, Ger. drängen to press, throng, late ON. þrøngva, -gja, Icel. þrengja, Sw. tränga, Da. trænge to press), in signification not differing from THRING v.]
1. trans. To press or crush into a narrow space; to force into confinement: = THRING v. B. 5 c.
a. 1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1137. Sume hi diden in crucethus ðæt is in an cæste þat was scort and nareu and undep … and þrengde þe man þær inne ðæt him bræcon alle þe limes.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 473. Anticrist wolde faste to men godis of fortune bi coueytise, þat shulden drenge a man to helle. [But perh. this is for drenche = sink.]
2. intr. To go in a crowd or throng, press in, out, etc.: = THRING v. B. 1.
c. 1200. Ormin, 16182. Þatt he swa swiþe mikell follc Draf all ut off þe temmple…. Swa þatt teȝȝ alle þrenngdenn ut Off all þatt miccle temmple.
