wreath



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Wreath \Wreath\ (?; 277), n.; pl. Wreaths. [OE. wrethe, AS.
   wr[=ae][eth] a twisted band, fr. wr[imac][eth]an to twist.
   See Writhe.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Something twisted, intertwined, or curled; as, a wreath of
      smoke; a wreath of flowers. "A wrethe of gold." --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

            [He] of his tortuous train
            Curled many a wanton wreath.          --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A garland; a chaplet, esp. one given to a victor.
      [1913 Webster]

            Conquest doth grant
            He dear wreath to the Grecian combatant. --Chapman.
      [1913 Webster]

            Far back in the ages,
            The plow with wreaths was crowned.    --Bryant.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Her.) An appendage to the shield, placed above it, and
      supporting the crest (see Illust. of Crest). It
      generally represents a twist of two cords of silk, one
      tinctured like the principal metal, the other like the
      principal color in the arms.
      [1913 Webster]
.



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Wreathe \Wreathe\, v. t. [imp. Wreathed; p. p. Wreathed;
   Archaic Wreathen; p. pr. & vb. n. Wreathing.] [See
   Wreath, n.] [Written also wreath.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To cause to revolve or writhe; to twist about; to turn.
      [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            And from so heavy sight his head did wreathe.
                                                  --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To twist; to convolve; to wind one about another; to
      entwine.
      [1913 Webster]

            The nods and smiles of recognition into which this
            singular physiognomy was wreathed.    --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
      [1913 Webster]

            From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve
            Down dropped.                         --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To surround with anything twisted or convolved; to
      encircle; to infold.
      [1913 Webster]

            Each wreathed in the other's arms.    --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            Dusk faces with withe silken turbants wreathed.
                                                  --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            And with thy winding ivy wreathes her lance.
                                                  --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To twine or twist about; to surround; to encircle.
      [1913 Webster]

            In the flowers that wreathe the sparkling bowl,
            Fell adders hiss.                     --Prior.
      [1913 Webster]














Feedback Form