writhen
English
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɹɪðən/
Verb
writhen
- (archaic) past participle of writhe
Adjective
writhen (comparative more writhen, superlative most writhen)
- (archaic) Twisted, contorted.
- (archaic) Made or shaped by intertwining; plaited.
Anagrams
- Whitner
Middle English
Alternative forms
- wryþen, wryþe, wrythyn, wriþen, writhyn, writhe
Etymology
From Old English wrīþan, from Proto-Germanic *wrīþaną. Cognates include Old Swedish vrīþa and Middle High German rīden.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈwriːðən/
Verb
writhen
- To form or make into a curve or bend; to make bent:
- To bend or twist into a circular shape (as a wreath)
- To bend or twist as to distort; to writhe or wring.
- To bend or twist as to snap or split; to twist out of position.
- To writhe; to make a twisting motion (often while in pain)
- To move in a twisted or distorted way; to squirm.
- To force someone to fall over; to knock over.
- To connect two things or enclose one thing in another.
- To go or look away; to avoid involvement in an activity or matter.
- (rare) To start a behaviour or acquire attributes.
- (rare) To twine two things together.
- (rare) To be intertwined or twined together.
- (rare, surgery) To drill a hole by a twisting motion.
Usage notes
Weak forms occasionally appear in this verb, but it generally remains strong.
Conjugation
Conjugation of writhen (strong class 1)
| infinitive | (to) writhen | |
|---|---|---|
| indicative | present | past |
| 1st person singular | writhe | wroth, wrath |
| 2nd person singular | writhest | wroth, wrath, *wrothest |
| 3rd person singular | writheþ, writheth | wroth, wrath |
| plural | writhen | writh(en), *wroth(en) |
| subjunctive | present | past |
| singular | writhe | *writhe |
| plural | writhen | (i)writh(en), *wroth(en) |
| imperative | present | |
| singular | writhe | |
| plural | writheþ, writheth | |
| participle | present | past |
| writhende, writhinge | writh(en), wreth(en) | |
Related terms
- writhyng
Descendants
- English: writhe
- Scots: wryth, writhe
References
- “wrīthen (v.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-09-04.