WRY


Meaning of WRY in English

I. ˈrī verb

( wried ; wry·ing )

Etymology: Middle English wrien, from Old English wrigian to turn; akin to Middle High German rigel kerchief wound around the head, Greek rhiknos shriveled, Avestan urvisyeiti he turns

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb

: twist , writhe

transitive verb

: to pull out of or as if out of proper shape : make awry

II. adjective

( wry·er ˈrī(-ə)r ; wry·est ˈrī-əst)

Date: 15th century

1. : having a bent or twisted shape or condition

a wry smile

also : turned abnormally to one side

a wry neck

2. : wrongheaded 1

3. : cleverly and often ironically or grimly humorous

• wry·ly ˈrī-lē adverb

• wry·ness noun

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.