wreathe Hear it!

wreathe Definition

wreathe (t̸h)

transitive verb wreathed, wreath·ing

  1. to coil, twist, or entwine, esp. so as to form into a wreath
  2. to coil, twist, or entwine around; encircle clouds wreathed the mountains
  3. to decorate with wreaths
  4. to cover or envelop a face wreathed in smiles

Etymology: Early ModE, back-form. < ME wrethen, pp. of writhen, writhe; in later use < wreath

intransitive verb

  1. to move with a twisting or coiling motion
  2. to have or take the form of a wreath

wreathe Usage Examples

Preposition: about

temple: Blue; a woman's head couped at the neck proper wreathed about the temple and neck with a chaplet of oak proper.

Object

  • face: Joyce arrived, her bright round face wreathed in smiles.
  • head: Over 4 pilasters just above the cornice at roof level there are four wreathed heads surrounded with floral scrolls.

Preposition: in

  • mist: This is an atmospheric whodunit wreathed in winter mists and mystery, but given legs by a sturdy cast of rustic functionaries.
  • smile: Gandhi himself, however, appeared to be in the best of spirits, his face being wreathed in smiles.
  • cloud: The name itself is a mystery wreathed in clouds.
  • smoke: A man sits lost in thought before a golden vase from which a woman mysteriously emerges, wreathed in smoke.
  • mystery: It is illuminated by an eerie pink glow, and the summit is wreathed in mystery and cloud.
  • flower: Some of the cottages are let to residents, and these are wreathed in flowers.

Browse dictionary entries near wreathe

  1. wreath
  2. wreak
  3. WRC
  4. wrathful
  5. wrath
  6. wrastle
  7. wrasse
  8. wrapt
  9. wrapping
  10. wrapper
  1. wreck
  2. wreckage
  3. wrecked
  4. wrecker
  5. wrecking
  6. wrecking bar
  7. wren
  8. wrench
  9. wrest
  10. wrestle