Definition of "wring"

(transitive)

1. Often followed by out: to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out.  quotations

   Quotations

   • […] Protagenes portrai[e]d Venus with a ſponge ſprinkled with ſweete water, but if once ſhe wrong it, it would drop bloud: […]

     1580, John Lyly, Euphues and His England. […], London: […] Thomas East, for Gabriell Cawood, […]; republished in Edward Arber, editor, Euphues. The Anatomy of Wit. […] Euphues and His England. […], London: Alex[ander] Murray & Son, […], 1 October 1868, page 325

   • O my belly ſeeths like a Porridge-pot, ſome cold vvater I ſhall boyle ouer elſe; my vvhole body is in a ſvveat, that you may vvring my ſhirt; feele here— […]

     c. 1626 or 1629–1633 (first performance), [John Ford], ’Tis Pitty Shee’s a Whore […], London: […] Nicholas Okes for Richard Collins, […], published 1633, Act III, signature [F4], verso

   • [T]hat greater numbers of them [pores], […] are perforations that paſs quite through the Leather, may, not improbably, be ſhevvn by the uſual Practice of Chymiſts, to purify Quick-ſilver by typing it up ſtrictly in a piece of kids or ſheeps Leather, and then vvringing it hard to force it out; […]

     1684, Robert Boyle, “An Essay on the Porousness of Animal Bodies. Chapter III.”, in Experiments and Considerations about the Porosity of Bodies, in Two Essays, London: […] Sam[uel] Smith […], pages 10–11

   • [W]e contrived to satisfy the cravings of thirst by suffering the shirts to become saturated, and then wringing them so as to let the grateful fluid trickle into our mouths.

     1838, [Edgar Allan Poe], chapter XIII, in The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], pages 122–123

   • [H]e had sometimes wrung a dirty dishcloth into a customer’s soup before taking it in, just to be revenged upon a member of the bourgeoisie.

     1933 January 9, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter XXI, in Down and Out in Paris and London, London: Victor Gollancz […], page 154

   1. To squeeze water from (an item of wet clothing) by passing through a wringer.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • “I feel I’ve been wrung through a wringer,” Maggie said.

        1988, Anne Tyler, chapter 1, in Breathing Lessons (A Borzoi Book), New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, part 1, page 25

2. (also figuratively) Often followed by from or out: to extract (a liquid) from something wet by squeezing, twisting, or otherwise putting pressure on it.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • And whan he roſe vp early on the morow, he wrãge [wrange] yͤ dew out of the fleſe, and fylled a dyſſhe full of water.

     1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg: Eucharius Cervicornus and J. Soter?], Judges vj:, folio xvi, recto, column 1

   • At the end of this very long walk stands a woman in white marble, in posture of a laundress wringing water out of a piece of linen, very naturally formed, into a vast lavor the work and invention of M[ichel] Angelo Buonarotti.

     1645 May 31 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, page 178

   • [He] vvrung the urine out of his perrivvig, and lifting up a large ſtone, flung it vvith ſuch force againſt the ſtreet-door of that house from vvhence he had been bedevved, that the lock giving way, it flevv vvide open, […]

     1748, [Tobias Smollett], chapter XIV, in The Adventures of Roderick Random. […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: […] J. Osborn […], page 107

   • [Y]ou have to dig the moor and dry the marsh, to bid the morass give forth instead of engulphing, and to wring the honey and oil out of the rock.

     1857, John Ruskin, “Lecture I”, in The Political Economy of Art: Being the Substance (with Additions) of Two Lectures Delivered at Manchester, July 10th and 13th, 1857, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], page 17

   • Heinz could have wrung enough vinegar out of Cally’s look to run his pickle works.

     1952, Zora Neale Hurston, “Backstage and the Railroad”, in William Loren Katz, editor, Dust Tracks on a Road (The American Negro: His History and Literature), New York, N.Y.: Arno Press and The New York Times, published 1969, page 128

   • […] I thought that he was as pleased by the shock value of what he had to say as he was thrilled by the spectacle of wringing his own blood from the sodden gauze pad into the sodden towel.

     1989, John Irving, “The Finger”, in A Prayer for Owen Meany […], New York, N.Y.: William Morrow and Company, page 381

3. (also figuratively) To hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist; to wrest.  quotations

   Quotations

   • And some I vysyte with brennynge of fyre; / Of some I wrynge of the necke lyke a wyre; […]

     a. 1530 (date written), John Skelton, “Magnyfycence, a Goodly Interlude and a Mery, […]”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, page 288, lines 1934–1935

   • [O]ne toke the other by the tip of the finger, for hand would there none be wrongẽ [wrongen] thorow the grate, […]

     1534 (date written; published 1553), Thomas More, “A Dyalogue of Comforte agaynste Tribulacyon, […]”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published April 1557, book II, page 1170, column 1

   • [W]ith a ſoft ſleeke hand I'le clappe thy cheeke, / And vvring thy fingers vvith an ardent gripe: […]

     1600 (date written), [John Marston], Iacke Drums Entertainment: Or The Comedie of Pasquill and Katherine. […], London: […] [Thomas Creede] for Richard Oliue [i.e., Oliff], […], published 1601, Act III, signature E3, recto

   • [I]t is a hint / That vvrings mine eyes too't.

     1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii], page 3, column 1

   • [T]here iſſued out of the middeſt of the vvater a ſerpent, of fire, and hee as ſoone as hee perceiued it, leaped vpon her, and hanging by her ſquamie ſhoulders he vvroong her throat ſo ſtraitly betvveene both his armes, that the Serpent perceiuing her ſelfe to be vvell nigh ſtrangled, had no other vvay to ſaue her ſelfe, but by diuing dovvn into the deeps, […]

     1612, [Miguel de Cervantes], Thomas Shelton, transl., “Treating of that which Befell all Don-Quixote His Train in the Inne”, in The History of the Valorous and Wittie Knight-errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha. […], London: […] William Stansby, for Ed[ward] Blount and W. Barret, part 4, page 340

   • VVho vvould knovv Sinne, let him repair / Unto mount Olivet; there ſhall he ſee / A man ſo vvrung vvith pains, that all his hair, / His skinne, his garments bloudie be.

     , George Herbert, “The Agonie”, in [Nicholas Ferrar], editor, The Temple: Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel; and are to be sold by Francis Green, […]; reprinted London: Elliot Stock, […], 1885, page 29

   • Come hither, you dog you, and let me wring your neck round your shoulders.

     1710 March 5 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele], “Wednesday, February 22, 1709–10”, in The Tatler, number 137; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume II, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, page 310

   • Tovvards the middle of the laſt act, […] there is no neceſſity for ſpeaking, they are only to groan at each other, they muſt vary the tones of exclamation and deſpair through the vvhole theatrical gamut, vvring their figures into every ſhape of diſtreſs, […]

     1760, Oliver Goldsmith, “Letter LXXIX. From the Same [From Lien Chi Altangi, to Fum Hoam, First President of the Ceremonial Academy at Pekin, in China].”, in The Citizen of the World: Or, Letters from a Chinese Philosopher, […] (Parsons’s Select British Classics; XXIX), volume II, London: […] J[ohn] Parsons, […], published 1794, page 57

   • [I]f the warst come to the warst, it's but wringing the head o' him about at last.

     1816, Jedadiah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], chapter VIII, in Tales of My Landlord, […], volume I (The Black Dwarf), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for William Blackwood, […]; London: John Murray, […], page 158

   • Margaret could not speak for crying; but she wrung his hand at parting.

     1854 September – 1855 January, [Elizabeth Gaskell], “The Shadow of Death”, in North and South. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1855, page 195

   • Jason stood, slowly wringing the brim of his hat in his hands.

     1929, William Faulkner, “April 8, 1928”, in “The Sound and the Fury”, in The Sound and the Fury & As I Lay Dying, New York, N.Y.: The Modern Library, published 1946, page 320

   • Every chance you got you just stared at yourself in a mirror with open lips, and I had to wring your ears to make you do any work.

     2008, Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger, 1st UK edition, London: Atlantic Books, page 262

   1. To clasp and twist (hands) together due to distress, sorrow, etc.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • Come you vvhoſe loues are dead, / And vvhiles I ſing / VVeepe and vvring / Euery hand and euery head, […]

        1607 (first performance), [Francis Beaumont], The Knight of the Burning Pestle, London: […] [Nicholas Okes] for Walter Burre, […], published 1613, Act IV, signature [H4], verso

      • Ah! vvherefore doſt thou vvring thy tender Hands / In vvoeful Attitude?

        1749, [Tobias George Smollett], The Regicide: Or, James the First, of Scotland. A Tragedy. […], London: […] [F]or the benefit of the author, Act IV, scene v, page 56

      • [P]erſons in violent grief vvring their hands and convulſe their countenances; […]

        1798, Maria Edgeworth, Richard Lovell Edgeworth, “On Attention”, in Practical Education, volume I, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], page 83

      • The wind sawed, and the sawdust whirled. The shrubs wrung their many hands, bemoaning that they had been over-persuaded by the sun to bud; […]

        1864 May – 1865 November, Charles Dickens, “The Sweat of an Honest Man's Brow”, in Our Mutual Friend. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1865, book the first (The Cup and the Lip), page 109

4. To bend or strain (something) out of its position; to wrench, to wrest.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • [B]y the couetous prieſtes of Baall through defaulte of good & godly Counſayllours, whome (doubte ye not but this wicked rable founde meanes to wring out of fauour, & to remoue awaye from the Kynges preſence) he was ſo coumpaced, weyghed, perſuaded, woonne, bewitched, peruerted & ſo farre ſeduced: yͭ (as the ſcripture recordeth), he did eiuil in the ſyght of the Lorde euen after the abominacyons of the heathen.

     1549 February 10 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1548), Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall], “To the Moste Puissaunt Prince, and Our Moste Redoubted Soueraigne Lord Edward the Sixthe, […]”, in Erasmus, translated by Nicolas Udall, The First Tome or Volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testamente, London: […] Edwarde Whitchurche, folio viii, verso

   • Why, he wrong a club / Once in a fray out of the hande of Belzebub.

     c. 1552 (date written), Nicholas Udall, [Ralph Roister Doister], [London: s.n.], published 1566?; republished as Edward Arber, editor, Roister Doister. […] (English Reprints), London: Muir & Paterson, […], 24 July 1869, Act I, scene iiii, page 29

   • [N]ow you haue my opinion, you muſt not thinke to wring me from it, for I had rather be as all women are, obſtinate in mine owne conceipt, then apt to be wrought to others conſtructions.

     1580, John Lyly, Euphues and His England. […], London: […] Thomas East, for Gabriell Cawood, […]; republished in Edward Arber, editor, Euphues. The Anatomy of Wit. […] Euphues and His England. […], London: Alex[ander] Murray & Son, […], 1 October 1868, page 295

   • And the Prieſt ſhall bring it [a dove] vnto the altar, and wring off his head, and burne it on the altar: […]

     1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Leviticus 1:15, column 1

   • Our Bodies are unhappily made the VVeapons of Sin; and therefore if vve vvould overcome that, vve muſt by an auſtere Courſe of Duty firſt vvring theſe VVeapons out of its Hands.

     1662 November 19 (Gregorian calendar); first published 1717, Robert South, “The Seventh and Last Discourse Concerning Temptation. , published 1727, page 421

   • He who but one yet living here can lead, / Or who the life from both their hearts can wring, / Shall be the kingdom's heir, a glorious meed!

     1817 December (indicated as 1818), Percy B[ysshe] Shelley, “Canto Tenth”, in Laon and Cythna; or, The Revolution of the Golden City: A Vision of the Nineteenth Century. […], London: […] [F]or Sherwood, Neely, & Jones, […]; and C[harles] and J[ames] Ollier, […]; by B. M‘Millan, […], stanza XLI, page 232

   • I shall boast it mine—the balsam, bless each kindly wrench that wrung / From life's tree its inmost virtue, tapped the root whence pleasure sprung, / Barked the bole, and broke the bough, and bruised the berry, left all grace / Ashes in death's stern alembic, loosed elixir in its place!

     1877 September 14, Robert Browning, “La Saisiaz”, in La Saisiaz: The Two Poets of Croisic, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], published 1878, page 51

   • I'll wring his calf's head off his body with these hands, Dick!

     1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “What I Heard in the Apple Barrel”, in Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, part II (The Sea Cook), pages 91–92

5. To contort or screw up (the face or its features).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Then would I laugh to ſee my lady pout, / And ſmyle when moſt ſhe wroung her mouth awry; […]

     1576, George Whetstone, “The Garden of Unthriftinesse, […]”, in The Rocke of Regard, […], London: […] [H. Middleton] for Robert Waley; republished in J[ohn] P[ayne] Collier, editor, The Rocke of Regard, […] (Illustrations of Early English Poetry; vol. 2, no. 2), London: Privately printed, page 119

   • VVould'ſt haue me cry, run rauing vp & dovvn, / For my ſons loſſe? vvould'ſt haue me turn rank mad, / Or vvring my face vvith mimick action; / Stampe, curſe, vveepe, rage, & then my boſome ſtrike?

     1600 or 1601 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], Antonios Reuenge. The Second Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, and are to be soulde [by Matthew Lownes] […], published 1602, Act I, scene v, signature C2, verso

   • [W]hen he [a dog] fauneth vpon a man he vvringeth his ſk[i]nne in the forehead.

     1607, Edward Topsell, “Of Dogges”, in The Historie of Fovre-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, page 141

   • When pain and anguish wring the brow, / A ministering angel thou!— […]

     1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “Canto Fifth. The Court.”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, stanza XXXI, page 362

   • He got to bed with these parti-coloured thoughts; passed from one dream to another all night long, the white face of Teresa still haunting him, wrung with unspoken thoughts; […]

     1885, Robert Louis Stevenson, Fanny Van de Grift Stevenson, “The Brown Box (concluded)”, in More New Arabian Nights: The Dynamiter, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., page 184

6. To twist or wind (something) into coils; to coil.  examples

7. Of a thing (such as footwear): to pinch or press (a person or part of their body), causing pain.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Myselfe can tell best where my shooe doth wring mee.The spelling has been modernized.

     1546, John Heywood, chapter V, in Julian Sharman, editor, The Proverbs of John Heywood. […], London: George Bell and Sons, […], published 1874, part II, page 121

   • [T]he muſicke likes me not, and I haue a ſhooe vvrings me to'th heart; beſides I haue a vvomans reaſon, I vvill not daunce, becauſe I vvill not daunce: […]

     1601–1602 (date written), attributed to Thomas Dekker and/or Thomas Middleton, Blurt Master-Constable. Or The Spaniards Night-walke. […], London: […] [Edward Allde] for Henry Rockytt, […], published 1602, signature [A4], verso

   • Is this not a goodly ſhooe? is it not finely made? and is it not nevve? yet I dare ſaye there is neuer a one of you can tell vvhere it vvringeth me.

     1579, Plutarke of Chæronea [i.e., Plutarch], “The Life of Paulus Æmilius”, in Thomas North, transl., The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romaines, […], London: […] Richard Field, page 265

   • […] I vvill let no cobvvebs fall into my eyes, for I knovv vvhere my ſhoo vvrings me: […]

     1620, [Miguel de Cervantes], Thomas Shelton, transl., “Of the Wholesome Discourse that Passed betwixt the Duchesse and Her Damosels with Sancho Pansa, Worthy to be Read and Noted”, in The Second Part of the History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha. […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Edward Blount, part 2, page 223

   • But for the extirpating of the Rootes and cauſes of the like Commotions in time to come, the King began to find vvhere his Shooe did vvring him, and that it vvas his depreſſing of the Houſe of Yorke, that did ranckle and feſter the affections of his People.

     1622, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban [i.e. Francis Bacon], The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh, […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, page 37

8. (archaic or Britain, dialectal, also figuratively) To cause (someone or something) physical harm, injury, or pain; specifically, by applying pressure or by twisting; to harm, to hurt, to injure.  quotations

   Quotations

   • A Lorde God, howe the gowte wryngeth me by the too!

     a. 1530 (date written), John Skelton, “Magnyfycence, a Goodly Interlude and a Mery, […]”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, page 292, line 2073

   • I preethe Tom beat Cuts ſaddle; put a fevv flockes in the point, poor iade is vvroong in the vvithers, out of all ceſſe.

     c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, [Act II, scene i]

   • Then good Euphues wring not a horſe on the withers, with a falſe ſaddle, neither imagin what I am by thy thoughts, but mine own doings: […]

     1580, John Lyly, Euphues and His England. […], London: […] Thomas East, for Gabriell Cawood, […]; republished in Edward Arber, editor, Euphues. The Anatomy of Wit. […] Euphues and His England. […], London: Alex[ander] Murray & Son, […], 1 October 1868, page 249

   • All breathing Death, around their Chief [Achilles] they ſtand, / A grim, terrific, formidable Band [the Myrmidons]: / Grim as voracious VVolves that ſeek the Springs / VVhen ſcalding Thirſt their burning Bovvels vvrings.

     1718, Homer, [Alexander] Pope, transl., “Book XVI”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume IV, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], page 240, lines 192–195

9. (figuratively)

   1. To cause (tears) to come out from a person or their eyes.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • And art thou come, Horatio from the deapth, / To aske for iuſtice in this vpper earth? / To tell thy father thou art vnreuengde, / To vvring more teares from Iſabellas eyes: / VVhoſe lights are dim'd vvith ouer-long laments.

        c. 1587 (date written), [Thomas Kyd], The Spanish Tragedie: […] (Fourth Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for T[homas] Pauier, […], published 1602, Act III, signature I2, verso

      • The gripe of chaunce is vveake, to vvring a teare, / From him that knovves vvhat fortitude ſhould beare.

        1600 or 1601 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], Antonios Reuenge. The Second Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, and are to be soulde [by Matthew Lownes] […], published 1602, Act I, scene v, signature C2, verso

      • [S]hame upon thee, / It vvrings the Tears from Grillon's Iron Heart, / And melts me to a Babe.

        1682 December 15 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John] Dryden, [Nathaniel] Lee, The Duke of Guise. A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] H[odgkin] for R[ichard] Bentley […], and J[acob] Tonson […], published 1683, Act III, scene i, pages 26–27

      • But it is not, it is not, a ſmall diſtreſs that can vvring tears from theſe old eyes, that have not vvept for ſo many years.

        1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], “A Migration. The Fortunate Circumstances of Our Lives are Generally Found at Last to be of Our Own Procuring.”, in The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume I, Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […]; reprinted London: Elliot Stock, 1885, page 182

      • A foolish dream that from my brow hath wrung / A wrathful dew.

        a. 1822 (date written), John Keats, “[Tragedies.] Otho the Great: A Tragedy in Five Acts.”, in [Horace Elisha Scudder], editor, The Complete Poetical Works and Letters of John Keats, Cambridge edition, Boston, Mass., New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], published 1899, Act III, scene ii, page 178, column 2

   2. To cause distress or pain to (a person or their heart, soul, etc.); to distress, to torment.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • And if he had not too much cheriſh’d his natural conſtitution, and propenſity; and been too much griev’d, and vvrung by an uneaſy and ſtreight Fortune; he vvould have been an excellent Man of buſineſs, […]

        1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, “Book I”, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], volume I, part I, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the Theater, published 1707, pages 60–61

      • Oh Portius, didſt thou taſte but half the Griefs / That vvring my Soul, thou cou’dſt not talk thus coldly.

        1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, Act I, scene i, page 3

      • [T]hough he has vvrung my heart, for I am ſick almoſt to fainting, very ſick, my fellovv priſoner, yet that ſhall never inſpire me vvith vengeance.

        1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], “Happiness and Misery rather the Result of Prudence than of Virtue in This Life. […]”, in The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume II, Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […]; reprinted London: Elliot Stock, 1885, pages 133–134

      • I slept after the prostration of the day, with a stringent and profound slumber which not even the nightmares that wrung me could avail to break.

        1886 January 5, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case”, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., page 135

      • And then to want and not to have—to want and want—how that wrung the heart, and wrung it again and again!

        1927 May, Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse (Uniform Edition of the Works of Virginia Woolf), new edition, London: Leonard and Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press, […], published 1930, part III (The Lighthouse), page 275

   3. To obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • No Harry, Harry, ’tis no Land of thine; / Thy place is fill’d, thy Scepter vvrung from thee, […]

        c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene i], page 158, column 1

      • [I]f I could vvring ought from my ſelfe, not vnvvorthie of a iudicious Reader; […]

        1608, Joseph Hall, “To the High and Mightie Prince, Henrie, Prince of Great Britaine, Sonne and Heyre Apparant to Our Soueraigne Lord, Iames, King of Great Brit. &c. All Glorie in Either World”, in Epistles […], volume I, London: […] H[umphrey] L[ownes] for Samuel Macham & E[leazar] Edgar […], 1st decade

      • Torture ſhould not vvring it from me, I aſſure you.

        1741, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXXI”, in Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], 3rd edition, volume I, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […]; and J. Osborn, […], page 168

      • Hard hands have wrung from me my goods, my money, my ships, and all that I possessed—Yet I can tell thee what thou lackest, and it may be, supply it too.There are two chapter VIIs in this volume; this is the second one.

        1820, Walter Scott, chapter VII, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], pages 125–126

      • The malcontents flattered themselves, […] that it would be found impossible to restore public credit, to obtain advances from capitalists, or to wring taxes out of the distressed population, […]

        1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XXII, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume IV, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, page 727

      • It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged.

        1865 March 4, Abraham Lincoln, The [Second] Inaugural Address of President Abraham Lincoln, Delivered in the National Capitol, March 4th, 1865‎

      • [T]he enormous profits thus wrung from convict labor are a constant incentive to the contractors to exact from their unhappy victims tasks altogether beyond their strength, and to punish them cruelly when their work does not come up to the excessive demands made.

        1910, Emma Goldman, “Prisons: A Social Crime and Failure”, in Anarchism and Other Essays, New York, N.Y.: Mother Earth Publishing Association […], pages 129–130

      • Wang Lung sat smoking, thinking of the silver as it had lain on the table. It had come out of the earth, this silver—out of his earth that he ploughed and turned and spent himself on. He took his life from this earth; drop by drop by his sweat he wrung food from it and from the food silver.

        1931 April 23, Pearl S[ydenstricker] Buck, chapter III, in The Good Earth, 3rd British edition, London: Methuen & Co. […], published 1931, page 33

      • [H]is confidences were not wrung from him against his will but gushed like oil from a well, […]

        1970, Robertson Davies, “The Soirée of Illusions”, in Fifth Business […], Toronto, Ont.: Macmillan of Canada, section 2, page 278

   4. To use effort to draw (a response, words, etc.) from or out of someone; to generate (something) as a response.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • O noble ſir! / Your ouer kindneſſe doth vvring teares from me, […]

        1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, [Act V, scene i]

      • My buſie heart ſhall ſpin it all my dayes: / And vvhen it ſtops for vvant of ſtore, / Then vvill I vvring it vvith a ſigh or grone, / That thou mayſt yet have more.

        , George Herbert, “Praise”, in [Nicholas Ferrar], editor, The Temple: Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel; and are to be sold by Francis Green, […]; reprinted London: Elliot Stock, […], 1885, page 151

      • [T]hirty ſpies, / VVho threatning cruel death conſtrain'd the bride / To vvring from me and tell to them my ſecret, / That ſolv'd the riddle vvhich I had propos'd.

        1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], page 72, lines 208–211

      • Whilst monarchs laughed upon their thrones / To hear a famished nation's groans, / And hugged the wealth wrung from the woe / That makes its eyes and veins o'erflow,— […]

        1813, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Notes. IV. Page 54. Falsehood and Vice: A Dialogue.”, in Queen Mab; […], London: […] P. B. Shelley, […], page 130

      • O Goddess! hear these tuneless numbers, wrung / By sweet enforcement and remembrance dear,

        1819, John Keats, “Ode to Psyche”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, page 117

      • And thoughts that once wrung groans of anguish, / Now cause but some mild tears to flow.

        1846, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], “Evening Solace”, in Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published , page 122

      • Words like these, I observed, always troubled them; and I had no small satisfaction in wringing from the boys, occasionally, that fresh and bitter condemnation of slavery, that springs from nature, unseared and unperverted.

        1855, Frederick Douglass, “‘A Change Came o’er the Spirit of My Dream’”, in My Bondage and My Freedom. […], New York, Auburn, N.Y.: Miller, Orton & Mulligan […], part I (Life as a Slave), page 156

   5. (obsolete) To afflict or oppress (someone) to enforce compliance; to extort.  quotations

      Quotations

      • VVho can be bound by any ſolemne Vovv / […] / To vvring the VViddovv from her cuſtom’d right, / And have no other reaſon for this vvrong, / But that he vvas bound by a ſolemne Oath?

        1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i], page 145, column 1

      • [T]he Merchant aduenturers haue beene often vvronged and vvringed to the quicke, […]

        a. 1628 (date written), John Hayward, The Life, and Raigne of King Edward the Sixt, London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press, and J. Lichfield at Oxford?] for Iohn Partridge, […], published 1630, page 144

      • Time vvaſted is Exiſtence, us'd is Life. / And bare Exiſtence, Man, to live ordain'd, / VVrings, and oppreſſes vvith enormous VVeight.

        1742, [Edward Young], “Night the Second. On Time, Death, Friendship. […]”, in The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, London: […] [Samuel Richardson] for A[ndrew] Millar […], and R[obert] Dodsley […], published 1750, page 29

   6. (obsolete) To cause (someone) to do something or to think a certain way.  quotations

      Quotations

      • For men be ſo parciall alway to theim ſelfe, that our hart euer thinketh the iudgement wrong, that wringeth vs to the worſe.

        1528, Thomas More, “A Dialogue Concernynge Heresyes & Matters of Religion […]. Chapter III.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published April 1557, book III, page 210, column 1

   7. (obsolete) To change (something) into another thing.  quotations

      Quotations

      • As the wines which flow from the first treading of the grape are sweeter and better than those forced out by the press, which gives them the roughness of the husk and the stone, so are those doctrines best and sweetest which flow from a gentle crush of the Scriptures, and are not wrung into controversies and common-places.Attributed by the author to Francis Bacon.

        1844 January–December, Leigh Hunt, “Christmas and Italy; or, A Modest Essay, Showing the Extreme Fitness of This Book for the Season”, in A Jar of Honey from Mount Hybla, London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], published 1848, page xvii

   8. (obsolete) To give (teachings, words, etc.) an incorrect meaning; to twist, to wrest.  quotations

      Quotations

      • Lord, how dare these men thus wring the scriptures?

        1572, John Whitgift, “Whether Idolatrous Sacrificers and Mass-mongers may afterward be Ministers of the Gospel. Chap. ii. The First Division.”, in John Ayre, editor, The Works of John Whitgift, D.D., […] The First Portion, Containing the Defence of the Answer to the Admonition, against the Reply of Thomas Cartwright: Tractates I–VI, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] University Press [for the Parker Society], published 1851, tract III (Of the Election of Ministers), page 318

      • Or elſe they vvould ſtraine us out a certaine figurative Prelat, by vvringing the collective allegory of thoſe ſeven Angels into ſeven ſingle Rochets.

        1642 (indicated as 1641), John Milton, “To the Argument of B[ishop] Andrews and the Primat”, in The Reason of Church-governement Urg’d against Prelaty […], London: […] E[dward] G[riffin] for Iohn Rothwell, […], 1st book, page 8

   9. (obsolete, reflexive) To put (oneself) in a position by cunning or subtle means; to insinuate.  quotations

      Quotations

      • Drudges, that haue no extraordinarie giftes of bodie nor of minde, filche themselues into some noble-mans seruice, either by bribes or by flatterie, and, when they are there, they so labour it with cap and knee, and ply it with priuie whisperinges, that they wring themsleues into his good opinion ere he be aware.

        1592, Thomas Nash[e], Pierce Penilesse His Supplication to the Deuill. […], London: […] [John Charlewood for] Richard Ihones, […]; republished as J[ohn] Payne Collier, editor, Pierce Penniless’s Supplication to the Devil. […], London: […] [Frederic Shoberl, Jun.] for the Shakespeare Society, 1842, page 23

      • VVe vvring our ſelues into this vvretched vvorld, / To pule, and vveepe, exclaime, to curſe and raile, / To fret, and ban the fates, to ſtrike the earth / As I doe novv.

        c. 1599 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], The History of Antonio and Mellida. The First Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Mathewe Lownes, and Thomas Fisher, […], published 1602, Act III, signature F2, verso

10. (materials science) To slide (two ultraflat surfaces) together such that their faces bond.  quotations  examples

    Quotations

    • For a given set of blocks with lengths in multiples of thousandths the lengths may be so selected as to make it possible, by combining different blocks in wringing contact end to end, to form a series having any desired length, measured in inches and thousandths; […]An adjective use.

      1919 April 9, William E. Hoke, Precision Gauge, US Patent 1,472,837 (PDF version), page 1, column 2

    • The number of optical wringing procedures performed for each gauge block was five, and the number of measurements for each wringing procedure was eleven.An adjective use.

      1997, Bulletin of the National Research Laboratory of Metrology, Tokyo: National Research Laboratory of Metrology, page 278, column 2

    • The pack experiment method to evaluate phase correction is valuable in that the differences associated with wringing two different materials and/or surface finishes between the gauge blocks and the platen may be accounted for in the averaging over the pack gauge blocks.

      2001, Jennifer E. Decker, Nicholas Brown, Recent Developments in Traceable Dimensional Measurements: 20–21 June 2001, Munich, Germany, Bellingham, Wash.: Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers, page 25

    • The uncertainty of wringing effect is 6.9 nm, which can be determined by wringing the same gauge block on the base plate repeatedly.

      2010, Jonghan Jin, Seung-Woo Kim, “Precision Dimensional Metrology Based on a Femtosecond Pulse Laser”, in Mikhail Grishin, editor, Advances in Solid State Lasers: Development and Applications, Rijeka, Croatia: InTech, page 186

(intransitive)

1. To be engaged in clasping and twisting (especially the hands), or exerting pressure.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Go wash well, saith Sommer, with sunne I shall drie, / go wring well, saith Winter, with winde so shall I.

     1580, Thomas Tusser, “Washing”, in Fiue Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie: […], London: […] Henrie Denham [beeing the assigne of William Seres] […]; republished as W[illiam] Payne and Sidney J[ohn Hervon] Herrtage, editors, Five Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. […], London: Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., […], 1878, stanza 3, page 173

   • […] Mr. VVet-eyes vvent vvith hands vvringing together.

     1682, John Bunyan, “[Mr. Desires-awake Goes Again and Takes One Wet-eyes with Him]”, in The Holy War, Made by Shaddai upon Diabolus, for the Regaining of the Metropolis of the World. […], London: […] Dorman Newman […]; and Benjamin Alsop […], page 153

   • jacopo foscari. They will not banish me again?—No—no, / Let them wring on; I am strong yet. / guard. Confess, / And the rack will be spared you.

     1821, Lord Byron, “The Two Foscari, an Historical Tragedy”, in Sardanapalus, a Tragedy; The Two Foscari, a Tragedy; Cain, a Mystery, London: John Murray, […], Act I, scene i, page 187

   • The Haunted Wood was full of the groans of mighty trees wrung in the tempest, and the air throbbed with the thunderous crash of billows on the distant shore.

     1915, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, “A Book of Revelation”, in Anne of the Island, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, page 316

   • Jesus Christ! Was my folks refined. My mam she wouldn't think-a lettin' us young'uns call a pee pot a pee pot. A chamber's what she called it. […] And by God! Us young'uns had ter call the pee pot a chamber or git our God damn necks wrang.

     1946, Elizabeth Metzger Howard, chapter 2, in Before the Sun Goes Down, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company, part I (Summer), page 31

2. To twist the body in or as if in pain; to writhe.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • No, no, tis all mens office to ſpeake patience / To thoſe that vvring vnder the loade of ſorrovv […]

     1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i], page 60

   • Bel[arius]. He vvrings at ſome diſtreſſe. / Gui[derius]. VVould I could free't.

     1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene vi], page 386, column 2

   • Oh lord how his feat feete and handes he wrang, / Beſeeching his great god, that day to guide him, / And from his mortall ennemie to deuide him: […]

     1556, John Heywood, “The Spider Takyng Comfort, Entreth in Quarell with the Fliewring”, in The Spider and the Flie. […], London: […] Tho[mas] Powell; republished as A[dolphus] W[illiam] Ward, editor, The Spider and the Flie. […] (Publications of the Spenser Society, New Series; 6), Manchester: […] [Charles E. Simms] for the Spenser Society, 1894, page 40

   • [H]ovv is it [a worm] vexed vvith the ſcorching beames [of the sun], and vvrings vp and dovvne, in an helpleſſe perplexity; not finding vvhere to ſhrovvd it ſelfe; hovv obnoxious is it to the ſoules of the ayre, to the feet of men, and beaſts?

     1630, Ios. Exon. [i.e., Joseph Hall of Exeter], “Upon a Worme”, in R[obert] H[all], editor, Occasionall Meditations, London: […] [Benjamin Alsop and T. Fawcet?] for Nath[aniel] Butter, page 170

   • In hydra-wrestle, giant ‘Millocracy’ so called, a real giant, though as yet a blind one and but half-awake, wrestles and wrings in choking nightmare, ‘like to be strangled in the partridge-nets of Phantasm-Aristocracy,’ as we said, which fancies itself still to be a giant.

     1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “Phenomena”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, book III (The Modern Worker), pages 140–141

3. (figuratively)

   1. To contend, to struggle; also, to strive, to toil.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • Thus chaunce hath (by exchaunge) the flie ſo trapt, / That ſodainly he loſt his libertee: / The more he wrange, the faſter was he wrapt [in the spider's web] / And all to thencreaſe of his ieoberdee, […]

        1556, John Heywood, “The Introduction to the Matter, Showing howe the Flie Chaunced to Fall into the Spiders Copweb”, in The Spider and the Flie. […], London: […] Tho[mas] Powell; republished as A[dolphus] W[illiam] Ward, editor, The Spider and the Flie. […] (Publications of the Spenser Society, New Series; 6), Manchester: […] [Charles E. Simms] for the Spenser Society, 1894, page 27

   2. To experience distress, pain, punishment, etc.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • [A]ll Ambaſſadours / (You knovv) haue chiefly theſe inſtructions; / […] / [T]o obſerue the countenances and ſpirites, / Of ſuch as are impatient of reſt; / And vvring beneath, ſome priuate diſcontent: […]

        c. 1607–1608 (date written), George Chapman, “Byrons Conspiracie”, in The Conspiracie, and Tragedie of Charles Duke of Byron, Marshall of France. […], London: […] G[eorge] Eld for Thomas Thorppe, and are to be sold [by Laurence Lisle] […], published 1608, Act I, signature B, recto

4. (mining) Of a lode: to be depleted of ore; to peter or peter out.  examples

5. (obsolete) To make a way out with difficulty.

(also figuratively) A powerful squeezing or twisting action.  quotations  examples

(dated) Followed by down: the product of wringing, such as cider or wine.  quotations  examples

(obsolete) A sharp physical pain, especially in the abdomen; also, mental pain or distress.  quotations

(archaic) A device for compressing or pressing, especially for making cheese, cider from apples, or wine from grapes.  quotations