wrying

Variant of wry

wry definition

wry (rī)

transitive verb, intransitive verb wried, wrying wry′·ing

to writhe or twist

Etymology: ME wrien, to twist, bend < OE wrigian, to turn, twist, akin to OFris wrigia, to bend, stoop < IE *wreik- (> L rica, head veil) < base *wer-, to turn, bend

adjective wrier wri′er or wryer wry′·er, wriest wri′·est or wryest wry′·est

  1. Archaic turned or bent to one side; twisted
  2. made by twisting or distorting the features a wry face
  3. Rare distorted, as in meaning
  4. dry, ironic, sardonic, etc. wry humor

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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