v. t.
Then Satan first knew pain,
And writhed him to and fro. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
Her mouth she writhed, her forehead taught to frown. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
His battle-writhen arms, and mighty hands. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]
The reason which he yieldeth showeth the least part of his meaning to be that whereunto his words are writhed. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]
The nobility hesitated not to follow the example of their sovereign in writhing money from them by every species of oppression. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. To twist or contort the body; to be distorted;
After every attempt, he felt that he had failed, and writhed with shame and vexation. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Having a twisted distorted from. [ 1913 Webster ]
A writhen staff his step unstable guides. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]