wry

adjective

The definition of wry is a mocking, biting or sarcastic sort of humor, or an unpleasant facial expression used to indicate displeasure.

An example of wry humor is a sarcastic joke.
An example of a wry expression is when you wrinkle up your face when you taste something you dislike.

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"wry." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Wry>.

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wry. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Wry

wry

transitive verb

intransitive verb

wried, wry′ing

to writhe or twist

Origin of wry

Middle English wrien, to twist, bend from Old English wrigian, to turn, twist, akin to Old Frisian wrigia, to bend, stoop from Indo-European an unverified form wreik- (from source Classical Latin rica, head veil) from base an unverified form wer-, to turn, bend

adjective

wri′er or wry′er, wri′est or wry′est

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

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MLA Style

"wry." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Wry>.

APA Style

wry. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Wry

wry

adjective

wri·er, wri·est, or wry·er wry·est

Funny in an understated, sarcastic, or ironic way: a wry sense of humor.
Temporarily twisted in an expression of distaste or displeasure: made a wry face.
Archaic Abnormally twisted or bent to one side; crooked: a wry nose.

Origin of wry

From Middle English wrien to turn from Old English wrīgian ; see wer-² in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

wry′ly
adverb

wry′ness
noun

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"wry." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Wry>.

APA Style

wry. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Wry

Verb

(third-person singular simple present wries, present participle wrying, simple past and past participle wried)

(obsolete) To cover; clothe; cover up; cloak; hide.

Origin

From Middle English wryen, wrien, wreon, wrihen, from Old English wrÄ“on (“to cover, clothe, envelop, conceal, hide, protect, defend"), from Proto-Germanic *wrÄ«hanÄ… (“to wrap, cover"), from Proto-Indo-European *wreiá¸±- (“to turn, wrap, tie"), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to turn, bend").

Verb

(third-person singular simple present wries, present participle wrying, simple past and past participle wried)

To twist or contort (the body, face etc.).

Adjective

(comparative wrier or wryer, superlative wriest or wryest)

Turned away, contorted (of the face or body).
a wry mouth
Dryly humorous; sardonic or ironic.
Twisted, bent, crooked.
Deviating from the right direction; misdirected; out of place.

Origin

From Middle English wrien, from Old English wrÄ«Ä¡ian (“to go, turn, twist, bend, strive, struggle, press forward, endeavor, venture"), from Proto-Germanic *wrigÅnÄ… (“to wriggle"), from Proto-Indo-European *wreiá¸±- (“to turn, wrap, tie"), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to turn, bend"). Compare awry, wriggle.