writhe

[rahyth]

verb (used without object), writhed, writh·ing.

to twist the body about, or squirm, as in pain, violent effort, etc.

to shrink mentally, as in acute discomfort.

verb (used with object), writhed, writh·ing.

to twist or bend out of shape or position; distort; contort.

to twist (oneself, the body, etc.) about, as in pain.

noun

a writhing movement; a twisting of the body, as in pain.

Origin of writhe

before 900; Middle English writhen (v.), Old English wrīthan to twist, wind; cognate with Old Norse rītha to knit, twist; akin to wreath, wry

Related formswrith·er, nounwrith·ing·ly, adverb

Can be confusedwraith wreath wreathe writhe

Synonyms for writhe

1. thresh, flail, contort, wriggle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for writher

writhe

verb

to twist or squirm in or as if in pain

(intr) to move with such motions

(intr) to suffer acutely from embarrassment, revulsion, etc

noun

the act or an instance of writhing

Derived Formswrither, noun

Word Origin for writhe

Old English wrīthan; related to Old High German rīdan, Old Norse rītha. See wrath, wreath, wrist, wroth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for writher

writhe

Old English wriðan "to twist or bend," earlier "to bind or fetter," from Proto-Germanic *writhanan (cf. North Frisian wrial, Old High German ridan, Old Norse riða, Middle Swedish vriþa, Middle Danish vride), from PIE *wreit- "to turn, bend" (see wreath). Related: Writhed; writhing.