wreathe

verb wreathes · wreathing · wreathed · wreathe

1. also, figuratively, transitive To coil, curl, or twist (something); to shape (something) into circles or coils. [S]he ſtarts like one that ſpies an adder, / VVreath'd vp in fatall folds iuſt in his vvay, / The feare vvhereof doth make him ſhake, & ſhudder, […]

   Opposite: uncoil, uncurl, untwist, unwreathe

2. also, figuratively, transitive To adorn (someone or something) with a garland or wreath. [W]ith Laurels vvreath your poſts, / And ſtrovv vvith Flovv'rs the Pavement; […]
3. also, figuratively, transitive Of flowers, leaves, etc.: to form the shape of a wreath around (something). Death's Harbingers, lye latent in the Draught: / And in the Flovv'rs that vvreath the ſparkling Bovvl, / Fell Adders hiſs, and poys'nous Serpents roll.

   Similar: enwreathe, inwreathe

4. also, figuratively, transitive Often followed by in and the thing encircling: to coil or spiral around, or encircle, (someone or something); (by extension) to cover or envelop (someone or something). wreathed in mystery

   Similar: enwreathe, inwreathe, enshroud, surround · Opposite: unwreathe

5. also, figuratively, reflexive, transitive Followed by about, around, or round: to coil, twist, or wind (oneself or something) around a person or thing; (by extension) to cause (oneself or something) to cover or encircle a person or thing. He had a kercher wreathed aboute his heed: […]

   Similar: enwreathe, inwreathe · Opposite: unwreathe

6. also, figuratively, transitive Often followed by together: to entwine or twist (two or more people or things) together; to intertwine, to interweave. [Y]ou haue learn'd (like Sir Protheus) to vvreath your Armes like a Male-content: […]

   Similar: interwreathe

7. also, archaic, figuratively, transitive To form (a crown, garland, wreath, etc.) by entwining or twisting flowers, leaves, etc., together; also, to entwine or twist (flowers, leaves, etc.) together to form a crown, garland, wreath, etc. On th' other ſide, Adam, ſoon as he heard / The fatal Treſpaſs don by Eve, amaz'd, / Aſtonied ſtood and Blank, vvhile horror chill / Ran through his veins, and all his joynts relax'd; / From his ſlack hand the Garland vvreath'd for Eve / Dovvn drop'd, and all the faded Roſes ſhed: […]
8. also, figuratively, transitive To strengthen (an earthen embankment) with hurdles of wattle.
9. also, figuratively, obsolete, transitive To form (something) by entwining or twisting two or more things together; also, to entwine or twist (something) with another thing. Yf ther be twaine, one may defend the tother ouer throwne. / The single twyned cordes may no suche stresse indure / As cables brayded thre fould may, together wrethed swer [i.e., sure].
10. Scotland, also, figuratively, obsolete, transitive Followed by on: to place (a yoke, symbolizing a burden) on someone's neck. [T]he French troops vvere to be employed as inſtruments for ſubduing the Scots, and vvreathing the yoke about their necks.
11. also, figuratively, intransitive Followed by about, around, or round: to coil, twist, or wind around a person or thing. [W]hen the Hoppe groweth high it muſt haue a pole, when the Iuie ſpreadeth, it cleaueth to the flint, when the Vine riſeth, it wreatheth about yͤ Elme, […]

    Opposite: unwreathe

12. also, figuratively, intransitive Of mist, smoke, etc.: to move with a coiling, spiralling, or twisting motion. I unsealed the vial mystical, / I outpoured the liquid thing, / And while the smoke came wreathing out, / I stood unshuddering.
13. also, figuratively, intransitive, obsolete, rare Followed by with: to become intertwined with something.
14. Scotland, also, figuratively, intransitive, obsolete Of snow: to form drifts.
15. transitive To arrange (one's expression, face, etc.) into a smile; also (reflexive), of the lips, mouth, etc.: to arrange (itself or themselves) into a smile. Contempt kept Bertram's anger down, / And wreathed to savage smile his frown.
16. reflexive, transitive To bend or turn (oneself), often continuously; to twist and turn, to writhe.
17. archaic, figuratively, reflexive, transitive To artfully introduce (oneself) into a situation, a person's thoughts, etc.; to insinuate.
18. obsolete, transitive To cause (the body, limbs, etc.) to twist violently; to contort, to writhe. If an huge ſcaly Salmon chance to ſpy / The vvanton Errors of the ſvvimming Fly, / […] / Soon in ſmart Pains he feels the dire Miſtake, / Laſhes the VVaves, and beats the foamy Lake, / […] / And novv again, impatient of the VVound, / He rolls and vvreathes his ſhining Body round; […]
19. obsolete, transitive To rip or tear (something); to rend. The ſame day in the afternoone we ſawe in the element, a cloud with a long tayle, like vnto the tayle of a ſerpent, which cloud is called in Italian Cion, the tayle of this cloud did hang as it were into the ſea: […] The Marriners reported to vs that it had this propertie, that if it ſhould happen t
20. obsolete, transitive To turn (something) violently around or aside; to wrench, to wring. [T]o wreſt the will of man, or to wreath his hearte to our humours, it is not in the compaſſe of Arte, but in the power of the moſt higheſt.
21. obsolete, transitive Followed by from: to take (something) by force; to wrest.
22. obsolete, rare, transitive To make (a bow) by bending forward. […] Thoſe of fairer front, / But equal inhumanity, in courts, / And ſlippery pomp delight, in dark cabals; / VVreathe the deep bovv, diffuſe the lying ſmile, / And tread the vveary labyrinth of ſtate.
23. figuratively, obsolete, transitive To give (spoken or written words) a false or strained meaning; to twist.
24. intransitive To bend or turn, often continuously; to twist and turn, to writhe. [F]or griefe his hart did grate, / And from ſo heauie ſight his head did vvreath, / Accuſing fortune, and too cruell fate, / VVhich plonged had faire Lady in ſo vvretched ſtate.