Wood, wood,adj.(Shak.) mad, furious.—n.Wood′ness. [A.S.wód; Ice.ódhr, Goth.wods, frantic, Ger.wuth, madness.]
Woodburytype, wood′ber-i-tīp,n.a method of photograph printing in which a sensitised gelatine film, developed under a negative to an extra relief, is impressed on soft metal by hydraulic pressure. This in turn can be printed by special ink in a press, and as it gives all the gradations of tint, it may be said to be a perfect photo-mechanical printing process. [Named from the inventor.]
Woodchuck, wood′chuk,n.the marmot. [Corr. from an Amer. Ind. name.]
Woodie, wood′i,n.(Scot.) the gallows. [A form ofwiddy,withy,]
Woof, woof,n.same asWeft(q.v.).—adj.Woof′y, dense. [A.S.ówef,áweb—áwefan, to weave—á-, prefix,wefan, to weave.]
Wooingly, wōō′ing-li,adv.in a wooing or persuasive manner. [Woo.]
Wool, wool,n.the soft, curly hair of sheep and other animals: short, thick hair: any light, fleecy substance resembling wool.—n.Wool′ball, a ball of wool, such as is sometimes found in a sheep's stomach.—adj.Wool′-bear′ing, bearing or yielding wool.—ns.Wool′-card′ing, the process of separating the fibres of wool preparatory to spinning;Wool′-comb′er, one whose occupation is to comb wool in order to disentangle and straighten out the fibres;Wool′-comb′ing;Wool′-drī′ver, one who buys up wool for a market.—adj.Wool′-dyed, dyed before spinning or weaving.—ns.Wool′fat, lanolin;Wool′fell, the skin with the wool still on it;Wool′-gath′ering, indulgence of idle fancies.—adj.dreamy: listless.—n.Wool′-grow′er, one who raises sheep for the production of wool.—adj.Wool′len, made of, or pertaining to, wool: clad in wool, rustic.—n.cloth made of wool.—ns.Wool′len-cord, a ribbed stuff, the face all of wool;Wool′len-drā′per, one who deals in woollen goods;Wool′liness.—adjs.Wool′ly, consisting of, or like, wool: clothed with wool;Wool′ly-haired,-head′ed, having the hair like wool.—ns.Wool′ly-pas′tinum, a kind of red orpiment;Wool′man, a dealer in wool;Wool′-mill, a building for the spinning of wool and the weaving of woollen cloth;Wool′pack, the package in which wool was formerly done up for sale: a bundle weighing 240 lb.: cirro-cumulus cloud;Wool′-pack′er;Wool′-pick′er, a machine for cleaning wool;Wool′sack, the seat of the Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords, being a large square sack of wool covered with scarlet;Wool′sey, a material made of cotton and wool.—n.pl.Wool′-shears, shears used in shearing sheep.—ns.Wool′-sort′er, one who sorts wool according to quality, &c.;Wool′-stā′ple, the fibre or pile of wool;Wool′-stā′pler, a wool-factor: a wool-sorter.—adv.Wool′ward(Shak.), in wool, as a penance.—ns.Wool′-wind′er, one who bundles wool for packing;Wool′work, needlework imitative of tapestry.—Wool-sorters' disease(seeAnthrax).—Angora wool, the wool of the Angora goat;Berlin-wool, a kind of fine-dyed wool used for worsted work. [A.S.wull; Goth.wulla, Ger.wolle, L.villus.]
Woold, wōōld,v.t.to wind about.—adj.Wool′ded.—ns.Wool′der, a stick used in woolding a mast or yard, or a pin in a rope-maker's top;Wool′ding.
Woom, wōōm,n.beaver fur.
Woomera, wōōm′ėr-a,n.a stick for spear-throwing (Austral.).
Woon, wōōn,n.a governor of a province. [Burmese.]
Woon, wōōn,v.i.(Spens.). Same asWon(1).
Woorali, woo′ra-li,n.a S. American poison for arrows.—AlsoWoo′rara,Wou′rali, same asCurari(q.v.).
Wootz, woots,n.steel made by fusing iron with carbonaceous matter. [Perh. the Canareseukku, steel.]
Wop, wop,v.t.SeeWhop.
Word, wurd,n.an oral or written sign expressing an idea or notion: talk, discourse: signal or sign: message: promise: declaration: a pass-word, a watch-word, a war-cry: the Holy Scripture, or a part of it: (pl.) verbal contention.—v.t.to express in words: (Shak.) to flatter.—v.i.to speak, talk.—ns.Word′-blind′ness, loss of ability to read;Word′-book, a book with a collection of words: a vocabulary.—adj.Word′-bound, unable to find expression in words.—n.Word′-build′ing, the formation or composition of words.—adj.Wor′ded, expressed in words.—adv.Wor′dily.—ns.Wor′diness;Wor′ding, act, manner, or style of expressing in words.—adj.Wor′dish(obs.), verbose.—n.Wor′dishness.—adj.Word′less(Shak.), without words, silent.—ns.Word′-mem′ory, the power of recalling words to the mind;Word′-paint′er, one who describes vividly;Word′-paint′ing, the act of describing anything clearly and fully by words only;Word′-pic′ture, a description in words which presents an object to the mind as if in a picture.—adj.Wor′dy, full of words: using or containing many words.—Word for word, literally, verbatim.—Break one's word, to fail to fulfil a promise;By word of mouth, orally;Good word, favourable mention, praise;Hard words, angry, hot words;Have a word with, to have some conversation with;Have words with, to quarrel, dispute with;In a word,In one word, in short, to sum up;In word, in speech only, in profession only;Pass one's word, to make a promise;The Word, the Scripture: (theol.) the second person in the Trinity, the Logos. [A.S.word; Goth.waurd, Ice.orth, Ger.wort; also conn. with L.verbum, a word, Gr.eirein, to speak.]
Wordsworthian, wurds-wur′thi-an,adj.pertaining to the style of the sovereign poet of nature, WilliamWordsworth(1770-1850).—n.an admirer ofWordsworth.
Wore, wōr,pa.t.ofwear.
Work, wurk,n.effort directed to an end: employment: the result of work: that on which one works: anything made or done: embroidery: deed: effect: a literary composition: a book: management: an establishment for any manufacture, a factory (gener. inpl.): (physics) the product of a force by the component displacement of its point and application in the direction of the force: (pl.), (fort.) walls, trenches, &c.: (theol.) acts performed in obedience to the Divine law: a manufactory, workshop, place of work (esp. inpl.): mechanism—e.g. of a watch.—v.i.to make efforts to attain anything: to perform: to be in action: to be occupied in business or labour: to produce effects, to make progress with difficulty, to strain or labour: to ferment: to be agitated, to seethe: to embroider.—v.t.to make by labour: to bring into any state by action: to effect: to carry on operations in: to put in motion: to purge: to influence: to manage: to solve: to achieve: to cause to ferment: to provoke, agitate: to keep employed: to embroider:—pa.t.andpa.p.worked or wrought (rawt).—ns.Workabil′ity,Work′ableness.—adjs.Work′able, that may be worked;Work′aday, work-day, toiling, plodding.—ns.Work′-bag,-bas′ket, a bag, basket, for holding materials for work, esp. needlework;Work′-box, a lady's box for holding materials for work;Work′-day, a day for work: a week-day.—adj.pertaining to a work-day.—ns.Work′er, a toiler, performer: among insects, the neuter or undeveloped female;Work′-fell′ow, one who is engaged in the same work with another.—ns.pl.Work′folk,Work′folks, persons engaged in manual labour.—adj.Work′ful, industrious.—ns.Work′girl, a girl or young woman employed in some manual labour;Work′house, a house where any work or manufacture is carried on: a house of shelter for the poor, who are made to work;Work′ing, action, operation: fermentation: (pl.) the parts of a mine, &c., where actual operations are in hand.—adj.active: labouring: connected with labour.—ns.Work′ing-beam, the oscillating lever of a steam-engine connecting the piston-rod and the crank-shaft, a walking-beam;Work′ing-class, manual labourers (often inpl.);Wor′king-day, a day on which work is done, as distinguished from the Sabbath and holidays: the period of actual work each day.—adj.laborious: plodding.—ns.Work′ing-draw′ing, a drawing of the details of a building by which the builders are guided in their work;Work′ing-house(Shak.), workshop;Work′ing-par′ty, a group of persons who do some work in common, or who meet periodically for such a purpose;Work′man,Work′ing-man, a man who works or labours, esp. manually: a skilful artificer.—adjs.Work′man-like, like a workman: becoming a skilful workman: well performed;Work′manly, becoming a skilful workman.—adv.in a manner becoming a skilful workman.—ns.Work′manship, the skill of a workman: manner of making: work done;Work′-mas′ter, a skilled or directing workman, esp. in some great undertaking.—n.pl.Work′-peo′ple, people engaged in labour.—ns.Work′room, a room for working in;Work′shop, a shop where work is done.—adj.Work′some, industrious.—ns.Work′-tā′ble, a small table used by ladies at their needlework;Work′-woman, a woman who makes her living by some manual labour.—Work of art, a production in one of the fine arts;Work double tides, to work through continuous tides, night and day;Work in, to intermix, to make to penetrate;Work into, to make way gradually into: to change, alter;Work off, to separate and throw off, to get rid of, circulate: to produce as by work, esp. to print;Work on, orupon, to act or operate upon, to influence;Work one's passage, to give one's work on board in place of passage-money;Work out, to effect by continued labour: to expiate: to exhaust: to solve or study anything fully out;Work up, to excite, rouse: to create by slow degrees, to expand, elaborate: to use up, as material: (naut.) to set at an irksome or needless task;Work with, to strive to influence by appeals, &c.—Board of Works, the body which has the management and control of public works and buildings, of which the expenses are defrayed from the crown revenues or parliamentary grants;Have one's work cut out, to have one's work prescribed: to have a difficult task before one;Make short work of(seeShort);Out of work, out of working order: without employment;Set to work, to employ in some work: to engage in some work;Seven Works of Corporal Mercy, to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, visit prisoners, visit the sick, harbour strangers, bury the dead—of Spiritual Mercy, to convert sinners, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, console the afflicted, bear wrongs patiently, forgive injuries, pray for the living and the dead. [A.S.weorc; Ice.verk, Ger.werk; further conn. with Gr.ergon.]
World, wurld,n.the earth and its inhabitants: the system of things: present state of existence: any planet or heavenly body: public life or society: an organic whole: business: the public: a secular life: course of life: a very large extent of country, as the 'New World:' very much or a great deal, as 'a world of good:' time, as in the phrase 'world without end'=eternally: possibility, as in 'nothing in the world:' (B.) the ungodly.—adjs.Worl′ded, containing worlds;World′-har′dened, hardened by the love of worldly things.—ns.World′-lang′uage, a universal language;World′liness;World′ling, one who is devoted to worldly or temporal possessions.—adjs.World′ly, pertaining to the world, esp. as distinguished from the world to come: devoted to this life and its enjoyments: bent on gain—alsoadv.;World′ly-mind′ed, having the mind set on the present world.—n.World′ly-mind′edness.—adjs.World′ly-wise, wise in this world's affairs;World′-old, exceedingly ancient;World′-wea′ried,-wea′ry, tired of the world;World′wide, wide or extensive as the world.—All the world, everybody: everything;All the world and his wife(coll.), everybody: also, an ill-assorted mass;A world, a great deal;Carry the world before one, to pass to success through every obstacle;For all the world, precisely, entirely;Go to the world(Shak.), to get married;In the world, an intensive phrase, usually following an interrogative pronoun or adverb.—The New World, the western hemisphere, the Americas;The Old World, the eastern hemisphere, comprising Europe, Africa, and Asia;The other world, the non-material sphere, the spiritual world;The whole world, the sum of what is contained in the world;The world's end, the most distant point possible. [A.S.woruld,world,weorold, (lit.) 'a generation of men,' fromwer, a man, andyldo, sig. an age; Ice.veröld, Old High Ger.weralt(Ger.welt).]
Worm, wurm,n.a term destitute of scientific precision, but often applied to any one of the members of numerous classes of invertebrate animals which are more or less earthworm-like in appearance, the earthworm, a grub, a maggot: anything spiral: the thread of a screw: the lytta or vermiform cartilage of a dog's tongue: the instrument used to withdraw the charge of a gun: a spiral pipe surrounded by cold water into which steam or vapours pass for condensation in distilling: anything that corrupts, gnaws, or torments: remorse: a debased being, a groveller: (pl.) any intestinal disease arising from the presence of parasitic worms.—v.i.to move like a worm, to squirm: to work slowly or secretly.—v.t.to effect by slow and secret means: to elicit by underhand means: to remove the lytta or vermiform cartilage of a dog's tongue.—n.Worm′-cast, the earth voided by the earthworm.—adjs.Worm′-eat′en, eaten by worms: old: worn-out;Worm′-eat′ing, living habitually on worms;Wormed, bored by worms: injured by worms.—ns.Worm′-fence, a zigzag fence formed of stakes;Worm′-fē′ver, a feverish condition in children ascribed to intestinal worms;Worm′-gear, a gear-wheel having teeth shaped so as to mesh with a worm or shaft on which a spiral is turned, an endless screw;Worm′-gear′ing;Worm′-grass, pink-root: a kind of stonecrop;Worm′-hole, the hole made by a worm.—adj.Worm′-holed, perforated by worm-holes.—ns.Worm′-pow′der, a vermifuge;Worm′-seed, santonica: the treacle mustard;Worm′-wheel, a wheel gearing with an endless screw or worm, receiving or imparting motion.—adj.Wor′my, like a worm: grovelling: containing a worm: abounding with worms: gloomy, dismal, like the grave. [A.S.wyrm, dragon, snake, creeping animal; cog. with Goth.waurms, a serpent, Ice.ormr, Ger.wurm; also with L.vermis.]
Wormian, wurm′i-an,adj.associated with the name of the Danish anatomist OlausWorm(1588-1654), applied esp. to the supernumerary bones developed in the sutures of the skull.
Wormwood, wurm′wood,n.the bitter plantArtemisia absinthium: bitterness. [A.S.wermod(Ger.wermuth), wormwood; perh. lit. 'keep-mind,' in allusion to its medicinal (anthelmintic and tonic) properties—werian, to protect (Ger.wehren),mód, mind.]
Worn, wōrn,pa.p.ofwear.
Worn-out, wōrn′-owt,adj.much injured or rendered useless by wear: wearied: past, gone.
Worricow, wur′i-kow,n.(Scot.) a hobgoblin: the devil: anything frightful or even only grotesque.
Worry, wur′i,v.t.to tear with the teeth: to harass: to tease: (Scot.) to choke.—v.i.to trouble one's self: to be unduly anxious: to fret:—pa.t.andpa.p.worr′ied.—n.act of worrying: trouble, perplexity, vexation.—ns.Worr′ier, one who worries himself or others;Worr′iment(coll.), anxiety.—adj.Worr′isome, causing trouble.—v.Worr′it(slang), to worry.—n.(slang) annoyance.—adj.Worr′ying, harassing.—adv.Worr′yingly.—Worry down, to swallow with a strong effort. [A.S.wyrgan, found in compoundáwyrgan, to harm; cf. Dut.worgen, Ger.würgen, to choke; A.S.wearg,werg, a wolf.]
Worse, wurs,adj.(used ascomp.ofbad) bad or evil in a greater degree: more sick.—adv.bad in a higher degree: less: (Shak.) with more severity.—v.t.(obs.) to worst.—v.i.Wor′sen, to grow worse.—v.t.to make worse.—adv.Wor′ser, a redundant comparative ofworse.—The worse, defeat, disadvantage. [A.S.wyrsa, fromwiers-safromwirsiza(Goth.wairsiza), formed with comp. suffix-izfrom a Teut. rootwers, found in Ger.ver-wirren, to confuse.]
Worship, wur′ship,n.religious service: fervent esteem: adoration paid to God: a title of honour in addressing certain magistrates, &c.: submissive respect.—v.t.to respect highly: to treat with civil reverence: to pay divine honours to: to adore or idolise.—v.i.to perform acts of adoration: to perform religious service:—pr.p.wor′shipping;pa.t.andpa.p.wor′shipped.—adjs.Wor′shipable,Wor′shipful, worthy of worship or honour, used as a term of respect.—adv.Wor′shipfully.—n.Wor′shipfulness.—adj.Wor′shipless, destitute of worship or worshippers.—n.Wor′shipper.—House, orPlace,of worship, a church or chapel. [A.S.weorthscipe—weorth,wurth, worth, affix-scipe,-ship.]
Worst, wurst,adj.bad or evil in the highest degree.—adv.to a very bad or very evil degree.—n.the highest degree of badness: the most evil state.—v.t.to get the advantage over in a contest: to defeat.—v.i.(obs.) to grow worse. [A.S.wyrst,wyrrest,wyrresta, from the same source asworse.]
Worsted, woost′ed, or woorst′ed,n.twisted thread or yarn spun out of long, combed wool: woollen yarn for ornamental needlework.—adj.made of worsted yarn.—n.Worst′ed-work, needlework done with worsted. [FromWorstead, a village near Norwich in England.]
Wort, wurt,n.a plant of the cabbage kind. [A.S.wyrt; Ger.wurz,wurzel, a root.]
Wort, wurt,n.new beer unfermented or in the act of fermentation: the sweet infusion of malt. [A.S.wyrte, new beer (Ice.virtr)—wyrt, root. See preceding word.]
Worth, wurth,n.value: possessions: that quality which renders a thing valuable: price: moral excellence: importance.—adj.equal in value to: having a certain moral value: deserving of.—adj.Worth′ful.—adv.Worth′ily(th), in a worthy manner: justly: truly.—n.Worth′iness(th).—adj.Worth′less, of no worth or value: having no value, virtue, excellence, &c.: useless.—adv.Worth′lessly.—n.Worth′lessness.—adj.Worthy(wur′thi), having worth: valuable: deserving: suited to: (B.) deserving (either of good or bad).—n.a man of eminent worth: a local celebrity: (Shak.) anything of value:—pl.Wor′thies.—v.t.to make worthy.—Worthiest of blood, male, as opposed to female—of inheritance.—Nine worthies, Hector, Alexander the Great, Julius Cæsar; Joshua, David, Judas Maccabæus; Arthur, Charlemagne, Godfrey of Bouillon. [A.S.weorth,wurth(Ger.wert), value.]
Worth, wurth,v.i.to be, happen, as in the phraseWoe worth=woe be to(with the noun in the dative). [A.S.weorthan, to become; cf. Ger.werden.]
Wot, wot,Wotteth, wot′eth,v.t.(B.)pr.t.of obsoletewit, to know. [Wit.]
Would, wood,pa.t.ofwill.—adj.Would′-be, aspiring, trying, or merely professing to be.—n.a vain pretender. [A.S.wolde, pa.t. ofwillan.]
Woulfe-bottle, woolf′-bot′l,n.a form of three-necked bottle, generally arranged in a series known asWoulfe's apparatus, used for the purpose of purifying gases, or of dissolving them in suitable solvents—from the name of the London chemist, PeterWoulfe(1727-1806).
Wound, wownd,pa.t.andpa.p.ofwind.
Wound, wōōnd,n.any division of soft parts, including the skin, produced by external mechanical force—whether incised, punctured, contused, lacerated, or poisoned: any cut, bruise, hurt, or injury.—v.t.to make a wound in: to injure.—adj.Woun′dable, capable of being wounded.—n.Woun′der.—adv.Woun′dily(coll.), excessively.—n.Woun′ding.—adj.Wound′less, exempt from being wounded, invulnerable: harmless.—n.Wound′wort, a name applied to several plants of popular repute as vulneraries, as the kidney-vetch, &c.: a plant of genusStachys, the marsh or clown's woundwort.—adj.Woun′dy, causing wounds: (coll.) excessive. [A.S.wund(Ger.wunde, Ice.und)—A.S.wund, wounded; prob. orig. pa.p. of A.S.winnan, to fight, strive.]
Wourali. SeeWoorali.
Wove,Woven,pa.t.andpa.p.ofweave.
Wow, wow,v.i.(Spens.) to woo.
Wow, wow,interj.an exclamation of wonder.
Wowf, wowf,adj.(Scot.) crazy.
Wow-Wow, wow′-wow,n.the gibbon of Sumatra.
Wox,Woxen. (Spens.),pa.t.andpa.p.ofwax.
Wrack,Rack, rak,n.a term loosely given to various seaweeds, esp. to theFucaceæ, common on British shores, long valuable as a source of kelp, and utilised as manure: shipwreck: ruin.—adj.Wrack′ful, destructive. [Lit. 'something cast ashore,' A.S.wræc, exile, misery—wrecan, to drive, urge.Wrackis a doublet ofwreck.]
Wrack, rak, by-form ofwreck.
Wraith, rāth,n.a spectre: an apparition in the exact likeness of a person seen before or soon after his death. [Cf. dial. formwarth, an apparition; prob. orig. having the sense of 'guardian spirit'—Ice.vörthr, a guardian.]
Wrangle, rang′gl,v.i.to make a disturbance: to dispute: to dispute noisily or peevishly.—n.a noisy dispute.—ns.Wrang′ler, one who wrangles or disputes angrily: (Shak.) a stubborn foe: in the University of Cambridge, one of those who have attained the first class in the public mathematical honour examinations;Wrang′lership.—adj.Wrang′lesome, given to wrangling.—n.Wrang′ling.—Senior wrangler, the student taking the first place in the class mentioned, the second being calledSecond wrangler, and so on in the same way. [A freq. ofwring.]
Wrap, rap,v.t.to roll or fold together: to enfold: hide: to cover by winding something round (often with up):—pr.p.wrap′ping;pa.t.andpa.p.wrapped.—n.a wrapper, as a shawl, &c.—ns.Wrap′page, act of wrapping: things used as wrappers;Wrap′per, one who, or that which, wraps: a loose outer garment of a woman;Wrap′ping;Wrap′-ras′cal, a loose greatcoat worn about 1740 (a humorous term).—Wrapped up in, bound up in: engrossed with: comprised in. [A form ofwarp—M. E.wrappen, alsowlappen. Cf.Lap(v.t. to wrap) andEnvelop.]
Wrap. Same asRap.
Wrasse, ras,n.a genus of bony fishes representative of the large familyLabridæ, and including many species on European and North African coasts. Common British species are theballan-wrasse, thered wrasse, and thegibbous wrasse. [Perh. the W.gwrachen.]
Wrath, räth,n.violent anger: holy indignation: heat.—adj.violently angry.—adj.Wrath′ful, full of wrath: very angry: springing from, or expressing, wrath.—adv.Wrath′fully.—n.Wrath′fulness.—adv.Wrath′ily.—adjs.Wrath′less;Wrath′y, apt to wrath. [Old Northumbrianwrǽððo—A.S.wráð, adj. wroth; Ice.reithi.]
Wrawl, rawl,v.i.(Spens.) to cry as a cat, to caterwaul. [Imit.]
Wraxling, raks′ling,n.wrestling.
Wreak, rēk,v.t.to inflict: avenge.—n.Wreak′er.—adjs.Wreak′ful, revengeful: angry;Wreak′less, unpunished. [A.S.wrecan, orig. to drive, and so to punish, avenge; Ice.reka, to drive, pursue, Ger.rächen; conn. with L.urgēre.]
Wreak, rēk,v.i.(Shak.). Same asReck.
Wreath, rēth,n.a chaplet: a garland: anything long and circular: a defect in glass.—v.t.Wreathe(rēth), to form by twisting: to form into a wreath: to twine about or encircle.—v.i.to be interwoven.—adj.Wreath′en(th), wreathed.—n.Wreath′er(th).—adjs.Wreath′less;Wreath′y. [A.S.wrædh, 'a twisted band'—wríthan, to writhe.]
Wreck, rek,n.destruction: destruction of a ship: ruins of a destroyed ship: remains of anything ruined: shipwrecked property.—v.t.to destroy or disable: to ruin.—v.i.to suffer wreck or ruin.—ns.Wreck′age, the act of wrecking: wrecked material;Wreck′er, a person who purposely causes a wreck or who plunders wreckage: one who lures a ship on to the rocks for purposes of plunder: one who criminally ruins anything: a person employed by the owners in recovering disabled vessels or their cargo.—adj.Wreck′ful, causing ruin.—n.Wreck′-mas′ter, a person taking charge of a disabled ship and its cargo.—Wreck commissioners, a tribunal which inquires into shipping disasters.—Receivers of wrecks, wreck-masters. [A.S.wræc, expulsion—wrecan, to drive, Low Ger.wrak, Dut.wrak, Ice.reki, a thing drifted ashore; a doublet ofwrack.]
Wreck, rek,n.(Spens.) same asWreak.—v.t.(Milt.) to wreak.
Wren, ren,n.a genus (Troglodytes) and family (Troglodytidæ) of birds, having a slender, slightly curved and pointed bill, the wings very short and rounded, the tail short and carried erect, the legs slender and rather long.—ns.Wren′ning, the stoning of a wren to death on St Stephen's Day, December 26th—Wrenning Day—once practised in the North Country;Wren′-tit, a Californian bird (Chamæa fasciata), of dubious relations, at once resembling the wren and the titmouse. [A.S.wrenna,wrǽnna—wrǽne, lascivious.]
Wrench, rensh,v.t.to wring or pull with a twist: to force by violence: to sprain.—v.i.to undergo a violent wrenching.—n.a violent twist: a sprain: an instrument for turning bolts, &c.: in coursing, bringing the hare round at less than a right angle—half a point in the recognised code of points for judging. [A.S.wrencan(Ger.renken)—wrenc, fraud; root ofwring.]
Wrest, rest, v.t, to twist from by force: to twist from truth or from its natural meaning.—n.violent pulling and twisting: distortion: an instrument, like a wrench, for tuning the piano, &c.—n.Wrest′er. [A.S.wrǽstan—wrǽst, firm, fromwráth, pa.t. ofwríthan, to writhe; Dan.vriste.]
Wrestle, res′l,v.i.to contend by grappling and trying to throw the other down: to struggle: to apply one's self keenly to: (Scot.) to pray earnestly.—v.t.to contend with in wrestling.—n.a bout at wrestling: a struggle between two to throw each other down.—ns.Wrest′ler;Wrest′ling, the sport or exercise of two persons struggling to throw each other to the ground in an athletic contest governed by certain fixed rules—catch-hold,ground-wrestling,catch-as-catch-can,back-hold, &c. [A.S.wrǽstlian; a freq. ofwrǽstan, to wrest.]
Wretch, rech,n.a most miserable person: one sunk in vice: a worthless person: body, creature (in pity, sometimes admiration).—adj.Wretch′ed, very miserable: distressingly bad: despicable: worthless.—adv.Wretch′edly.—n.Wretch′edness. [A.S.wrecca, an outcast—wræc, pa.t. ofwrecan, to drive.]
Wrethe, rēth,v.t.andv.i.(Spens.). Same asWreathe.
Wrick, rik,v.t.(prov.) to twist, turn. [Low Ger.wrikken, to turn.]
Wriggle, rig′l,v.i.to twist to and fro: to move sinuously: to use crooked means.—v.t.to cause to wriggle.—n.the motion of wriggling.—ns.Wrigg′ler, one who wriggles: one who uses trickery;Wrigg′ling;. [A freq. of obs.wrig, to move about, itself a variant ofwrick, M. E.wrikken, to twist; cf. Dut.wriggelen, to wriggle.]
Wright, rīt,n.a maker (chiefly used in compounds, as ship-wright, &c.). [A.S.wyrhta—wyrht, a work—wyrcan, to work.]
Wring, ring,v.t.to twist: to force, or force out, by twisting: to force or compress: to pain: to extort: to bend out of its position.—v.i.to writhe: to twist:—pa.t.andpa.p.wrung, (B.) wringed.—ns.Wring′-bolt, a bolt with a ring or eye, used to secure a ship's planks against the frame till they are permanently fixed in place;Wring′er, one who wrings: a machine for forcing water from wet clothes—alsoWring′ing-machine′.—adj.Wring′ing-wet, so wet that water can be wrung out.—n.pl.Wring′-staves, strong pieces of wood used in applying wring-bolts.—Wring from, to extort;Wring off, to force off by wringing;Wring out, to squeeze out by twisting;Wring the hands, to manifest grief by convulsive clasping of the hands. [A.S.wringan, to twist; Dut.wringen, Ger.ringen. Cf.Wreak,Wry.]
Wrinkle, ring′kl,n.(coll.) a tip, valuable hint. [Perh. from A.S.wrenc, a trick. Cf.Wrench.]
Wrinkle, ring′kl,n.a small ridge on a surface caused by twisting or shrinking: unevenness.—v.t.to contract into wrinkles or furrows: to make rough.—v.i.to shrink into ridges.—adj.Wrink′ly, full of wrinkles: liable to be wrinkled. [M. E.wrinkel, conn. with A.S.wringan, to twist; prob. related to Sw.rynka, Dan.rynke, a wrinkle.]
Wrist, rist,n.the joint by which the hand is united to the arm: a stud or pin projecting from the side of a crank.—ns.Wrist′band, the band or part of a sleeve which covers the wrist;Wrist′-drop, inability to extend the hand, often caused by lead-poisoning;Wrist′let, an elastic band used to confine the upper part of a glove to the wrist: a bracelet: (slang) a handcuff;Wrist′-plate, an oscillating plate bearing wrist-pins for the connection of rods or pitmans, as on the cut-off gear of an engine;Wrist′-pin, any pin connecting a pitman to a cross-head;Wrist′-shot, in golf, a short stroke usually played with an iron, from the wrist, without swinging the club over the shoulder. [A.S.wrist—wríthan, to twist; Ger.rist.]
Writ, rit, obsoletepa.t.andpa.p.ofwrite.
Writ, rit,n.a writing: (law) a written document by which one is summoned or required to do something: a formal document, any writing.—Holy Writ, the Scriptures.—Serve a writ on, to deliver a summons to.
Write, rīt,v.t.to form letters with a pen or pencil: to express in writing: to compose: to engrave: to record: to communicate by letter.—v.i.to perform the act of writing: to be employed as a clerk: to compose books: to send letters: to practise the art of writing: to work as an author: to compose a letter:—pr.p.wrī′ting;pa.t.wrōte;pa.p.writ′ten.—ns.Wrī′ter, one who writes: a professional scribe or clerk: an ordinary legal practitioner in Scotch country towns: an author: a petty officer in the United States navy who keeps the watch-muster and other books of the ship—usuallyShip-writer:—fem.Wrī′teress(rare);Wrī′ter's-cramp(seeCramp);Wrī′tership, the office of a writer;Wrī′ting, the forming letters with a pen or pencil: that which is written: literary production;Wrī′ting-book, a book of paper for practising penmanship;Wrī′ting-case, a portable case containing materials for writing;Wrī′ting-cham′ber, a room fitted for writing: a law office;Wrī′ting-desk, a desk with a sloping top for writing upon: a portable writing-case;Wrī′ting-ink, ink suited for writing with;Wrī′ting-mas′ter, a master who teaches the art of penmanship: the yellow-bunting;Wrīting-pā′per, paper finished with a smooth surface, for writing upon;Wrī′ting-school, a school for penmanship;Wrī′ting-tā′ble, a table fitted or used for writing upon.—adj.Writ′ten, reduced to writing—opposed toOral.—Writers to the Signet, an ancient society of solicitors in Scotland who formerly had the exclusive right to prepare all summonses and other writs pertaining to the supreme court of justice, and still have the exclusive privilege of preparing crown writs, which include all charters, precepts, and writs from the sovereign or prince of Scotland.—Write down, to put down in written characters: to condemn in writing;Write off, to cancel by an entry on the opposite side of the account;Write out, to transcribe: to exhaust one's mental capacity by too much writing;Write up, to put a full description of in writing: to praise something in writing above its merits. [A.S.wrítan; Ice.ríta; the original meaning being 'to scratch' (cf. the cog. Ger.reissen, to tear).]
Writhe, rīth,v.t.to turn to and fro: to twist violently: to wrest: (obs.) to extort.—v.i.to twist.—n.(rare) a contortion.—adv.Wrī′thingly. [A.S.wríthan, to twist; Ice.rítha. Cf.Wreath,Wrest,Wrist.]
Writhle, rith′l,v.t.(Spens.) to wrinkle: (Shak.) to shrivel.
Wrizzled, riz′ld,adj.(Spens.) wrinkled.
Wroke, rōk,Wroken,rōk′n,obsoletepa.p.ofwreak.
Wrong, rong,adj.not according to rule or right, deviating from what is correct or suitable: perverse: not fit or suitable: incorrect: not right or true.—n.whatever is not right or just: any injury done to another: an erroneous view.—adv.not rightly.—v.t.to do wrong to: to deprive of some right: to injure.—ns.Wrong′-do′er, one who does wrong: one who injures another;Wrong′-do′ing, evil or wicked action or conduct;Wrong′er, one who wrongs.—adj.Wrong′ful, wrong: unjust: injurious.—adv.Wrong′fully.—n.Wrong′fulness.—adj.Wrong′-head′ed, obstinately and perversely stubborn.—adv.Wrong′-head′edly.—n.Wrong′-head′edness.—adv.Wrong′ly, in a wrong manner.—adj.Wrong′-mind′ed, having erroneous views.—n.Wrong′ness.—adj.Wrong′ous, unjust, illegal.—adv.Wrong′ously.—adj.Wrong′-timed, inopportune.—Go wrong, to fail to work properly: to stray from virtue;Have wrong, to be wrong: to suffer injustice;In the wrong, holding an erroneous view or unjust position;Private wrong, a violation of the civil or personal rights of an individual in his private capacity;Put in the wrong, to cause to appear in error. [A.S.wrang, a wrong; most prob. Scand., Ice.rangr, unjust, Dan.vrang, wrong. Skeat explains A.S.wrangas fromwrang, pa.t. ofwringan, to wring, like Fr.tort, from L.tortus, twisted.]
Wrote, rōt.pa.t.ofwrite.
Wroth, rōth,adj.wrathful. [A.S.wráth, angry—wráth, pa.t. ofwríthan, to writhe; cf. Ice.reithr.]
Wrought, rawt,pa.t.andpa.p.ofwork.—n.Wrought′-ī′ron, malleable iron. [A.S.worhte,geworht, pa.t. and pa.p. ofwyrcan,wircan, to work.]
Wrung, rung,pa.t.andpa.p.ofwring.
Wry, rī,adj.twisted or turned to one side: not in the right direction.—n.(prov.) distortion.—v.i.(Shak.) to go astray.—v.t.to give a twist to, pervert.—n.Wry′bill, a New Zealand plover with bill bent sideways.—adv.Wry′ly.—adj.Wry′-mouthed, having a crooked mouth, unflattering.—n.Wry′-neck, a twisted or distorted neck: a small bird allied to the woodpecker, which twists round its head strangely when surprised.—adj.Wry′-necked.—n.Wry′ness.—Make a wry face, ormouth, to pucker up the face, or mouth, in sign of disgust or pain. [A.S.wrigian, to drive, bend. Ult. conn. withwriggleandwrithe.]
Wull, wul,v.i.(Spens.). Same asWill.
Wuther, wuth′ėr,v.i.(prov.) to roar sullenly.—n.a low roaring. [Perh. traceable to A.S.wóth, a cry.]
Wuzzent, wuz′ent,adj.(Scot.) wizened.
Wuzzle, wuz′l,v.t.(U.S.) to jumble.
Wych-elm,n.SeeWitch-elm.
Wyclifite,Wycliffite, wik′lif-īt,adj.pertaining to the English reformer and translator of the Bible, JohnWycliffe(1325-84).—n.a follower ofWycliffe; a Lollard.
Wykehamist, wik′am-ist,n.a student, or former student, of Winchester College, founded by William ofWykeham, Bishop of Winchester (died 1404).
Wylie-coat, wī′li-kōt,n.(Scot.) a flannel undervest or petticoat.
Wynd, wīnd,n.(Scot.) a lane: narrow alley in a town. [Same asWind(2).]
Wyvern, wī′vrn,n.(her.) a fictitious monster allied to the dragon and the griffin, and having its two legs and feet like those of the eagle. [O. Fr.wivre, a viper—L.vipera.]