wrest
(rĕst)
[Middle English wresten, from Old English wrǣstan, to twist.]
transitive verb: wrest·ed, wrest·ing, wrests.
- To obtain by or as if by pulling with violent twisting movements: wrested the book out of his hands; wrested the islands from the settlers.
- To usurp forcefully: wrested power from the monarchy.
- To extract by or as if by force, twisting, or persistent effort; wring: wrest the meaning from an obscure poem.
- To distort or twist the nature or meaning of: wrested the words out of context.
- To divert to an improper use; misapply.
noun
- The act of wresting.
- Music A small tuning key for the wrest pins of a stringed instrument.
derivatives
- wrest́er
- noun