[wring] vb wrung ; wring.ing [ME, fr. OE wringan; akin to OHG ringan to struggle, Lith rengtis to bend down, OE wyrgan to strangle--more at worry] vt (bef. 12c) 1: to squeeze or twist esp. so as to make dry or to extract moisture or liquid "~ a towel dry"
2: to extract or obtain by or as if by twisting and compressing "~ water from a towel" "~ a confession from the suspect" 3 a: to twist so as to strain or sprain into a distorted shape "I could ~ your neck" b: to twist together (clasped hands) as a sign of anguish
4: to affect painfully as if by wringing: torment "a tragedy that ~s the heart" ~ vi: squirm, writhe -- wring n