writhen

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɪðən/

Verb

writhen

1. (archaic) past participle of writhe

Adjective

writhen (comparative more writhen, superlative most writhen)

1. (archaic) Twisted, contorted.
2. (archaic) Made or shaped by intertwining; plaited.

Anagrams

• Whitner, Winther

Middle English

Alternative forms

• wryþen, wryþe, wrythyn, wriþen, writhyn, writhe

Etymology

From Old English wrīþan. Cognates include Old Swedish vrīþa and Middle High German rīden.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwriːðən/

Verb

writhen

1. To form or make into a curve or bend; to make bent:
   1. To bend or twist into a circular shape (as a wreath)
   2. To bend or twist as to distort; to writhe or wring.
   3. To bend or twist as to snap or split; to twist out of position.
2. To writhe; to make a twisting motion (often while in pain)
3. To move in a twisted or distorted way; to squirm.
4. To force someone to fall over; to knock over.
5. To connect two things or enclose one thing in another.
6. To go or look away; to avoid involvement in an activity or matter.
7. (rare) To start a behaviour or acquire attributes.
8. (rare) To twine two things together.
9. (rare) To be intertwined or twined together.
10. (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, writhe
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	writhe	wroth
2nd-person singular	writhest	writhe, wroth
3rd-person singular	writheth	wroth
subjunctive singular	writhe	writhe1
imperative singular		—
plural2	writhen, writhe	writhen, writhe
imperative plural	writheth, writhe	—
participles	writhynge, writhende	writhen, writhe, wrethen, wrethe, ywrithen, ywrithe

¹Replaced by the indicative in later Middle English.
²Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

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.