ˈrēth verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: partly from Middle English wrethen, writhen, past participle of writhen to writhe and partly from wreath (I) — more at writhe
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to writhe : twist , contort
wreathing his hands — C.S.Forester
b. : to alter the configurations of (the face) so as to smile
their faces wreathed with pleasant social smiles — Margaret A. Barnes
2.
a. : to shape into a wreath or something resembling a wreath
daisies and buttercups wreathed into a garland
b. : interweave
muted violins wreathe a delicate countermelody — E.J.Stringham
c. : to coil so as to encircle something
wreathed his legs about his stool
3. : to encircle, adorn, or crown with or as if with a wreath
a poet's brow wreathed with laurel
a high-waisted skirt … is wreathed with a black suede belt — New Yorker
clouds wreathed the tallest pinnacles — G.W.Long
4. obsolete : to cause to rotate by force : twist about : wrench or turn forcibly
5. Scotland : to surround or burden with (a yoke)
intransitive verb
1. : to twist in coils : writhe
like the cobras they travel with head raised, and the body sways with a … wreathing movement — C.H.Curran & Carl Kauffeld
smoke wreathing slowly from his short pipe — E.L.Thomas
2. : to take on the shape of a wreath : to move or extend in circles or spirals
Synonyms: see wind