wrest

American  

[rest] / rɛst /

verb (used with object)

1. to twist or turn; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist.

   Synonyms:

   wring

2. to take away by force.

   to wrest a knife from a child.

3. to get by effort.

   to wrest a living from the soil.

   Synonyms:

   wring

4. to twist or turn from the proper course, application, use, meaning, or the like; wrench.

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noun

1. a wresting; twist or wrench.

2. a key or small wrench for tuning stringed musical instruments, as the harp or piano, by turning the pins to which the strings are fastened.

wrest British  

/ rɛst /

verb

1. to take or force away by violent pulling or twisting

2. to seize forcibly by violent or unlawful means

3. to obtain by laborious effort

4. to distort in meaning, purpose, etc

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noun

1. the act or an instance of wresting

2. archaic a small key used to tune a piano or harp

Related Words

See extract.

Other Word Forms

• unwrested
  adjective
• unwresting
  adjective
• wrester
  noun

Etymology

Origin of wrest

First recorded before 1000; (verb) Middle English wresten, Old English wrǣstan “to turn, twist,” from unattested Old Norse wreista ( Icelandic reista ); akin to wrist; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb and first recorded in 1350-1400

Explanation

To wrest is to forcefully grab or take something away. You can wrest away many things, such as remote controls and championships. This word is strong and a little violent. It's not easy to wrest something away. Wresting away is a little like "wrestling" something away — you can't get it without a fight. Objects can be wrested away, but so can non-physical things. In a tough election, you could say the new president wrests away the title of commander-in-chief from the incumbent candidate.

Example Sentences

"Mr Ford, the late gardener at Wrest Park... has carried the plant many times from the conservatory to the mansion, and vice versa," it read.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2014

The 30m Wellingtonia was planted in the grounds of Wrest Park near Silsoe, Beds, in 1856 by Thomas de Grey.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2014

After Thomas, the gardens were looked after well with the house remaining remained in the family until Auberon Herbert in 1905, who leased Wrest Park to the US ambassador.

From The Guardian • Aug. 1, 2011

A great gardening pioneer he may have been, but it is clear that while at Wrest, Brown was the "hired help".

From The Guardian • Aug. 1, 2011

Wilson bought a fabric-winged Gypsy Moth, christened it Ever Wrest, and learned the rudiments of flying.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• exact
• extort
• extract
• seize
• usurp
• wrench
• wring