Main Entry:

¹wrench

Pronunciation:

\ˈrench\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English wrencan; akin to Old High German renken to twist and perhaps to Latin vergere to bend, incline

Date:

before 12th century

intransitive verb1: to move with a violent twist ; also : to undergo twisting2: to pull or strain at something with violent twistingtransitive verb1: to twist violently2: to injure or disable by a violent twisting or straining <wrenched her back>3: change ; especially : distort, pervert4 a: to pull or tighten by violent twisting or with violence b: to snatch forcibly : wrest5: to cause to suffer mental anguish : rack

— wrench·ing·ly \ˈren-chiŋ-lē\ adverb