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wreathe - 5 dictionary results

wreathe

[reeth] verb, wreathed; wreathed or (Archaic) wreath⋅en; wreath⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to encircle or adorn with or as with a wreath.
2. to form as a wreath by twisting or twining.
3. to surround in curving or curling masses or form.
4. to envelop: a face wreathed in smiles.
–verb (used without object)
5. to take the form of a wreath or wreaths.
6. to move in curving or curling masses, as smoke.

Origin:
1520–30; earlier wrethe, partly v. use of wreath, partly back formation from wrethen, obs. ptp. of writhe


wreather, noun
wreathe   (rēth)   
v.   wreathed, wreath·ing, wreathes

v.   tr.
  1. To twist or entwine into a wreath.
  2. To twist or curl into a wreathlike shape or contour.
  3. To crown, decorate, or encircle with or as if with a wreath.
  4. To coil or curl.
  5. To form a wreath or wreathlike shape around.
v.   intr.
  1. To assume the form of a wreath.
  2. To curl, writhe, or spiral: The smoke wreathed upward.

[From wreath.]

Wreathe

Wreathe\, v. t. [imp. Wreathed; p. p. Wreathed; Archaic Wreathen; p. pr. & vb. n. Wreathing.] [See Wreath, n.] [Written also wreath.]

1. To cause to revolve or writhe; to twist about; to turn. [Obs.]

And from so heavy sight his head did wreathe. --Spenser.

2. To twist; to convolve; to wind one about another; to entwine.

The nods and smiles of recognition into which this singular physiognomy was wreathed. --Sir W. Scott.

From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve Down dropped. --Milton.

3. To surround with anything twisted or convolved; to encircle; to infold.

Each wreathed in the other's arms. --Shak.

Dusk faces with withe silken turbants wreathed. --Milton.

And with thy winding ivy wreathes her lance. --Dryden.

4. To twine or twist about; to surround; to encircle.

In the flowers that wreathe the sparkling bowl, Fell adders hiss. --Prior.

Wreathe

Wreathe\, v. i. To be intewoven or entwined; to twine together; as, a bower of wreathing trees. --Dryden.
Language Translation for : wreathe
Spanish: cubrir, envolver, adornar, coronar,
German: schmücken,
Japanese: 包む

wreathe 
1530, a back-formation from wrethen, M.E. pp. of writhe.
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