wrest

English

/ɹɛst/

verb
Definitions
  • (transitive) To pull or twist violently.
  • (transitive) To obtain by pulling or violent force.
  • (transitive) To seize.
  • (transitive) To distort, to pervert, to twist.
  • (transitive) To tune with a wrest, or key.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English wresten inherited from Old English wrǣstan (twist forcibly, wrench) inherited from Proto-Germanic *wraistijaną derived from Proto-Indo-European *wreiḱ-.

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*wreiḱ-

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms