— wryly , adv. — wryness , n.
/ruy/ , adj., wrier, wriest .
1. produced by a distortion or lopsidedness of the facial features: a wry grin.
2. abnormally bent or turned to one side; twisted; crooked: a wry mouth.
3. devious in course or purpose; misdirected.
4. contrary; perverse.
5. distorted or perverted, as in meaning.
6. bitterly or disdainfully ironic or amusing: a wry remark.
[ 1515-25; adj. use of wry to twist, ME wryen, OE wrigian to go, strive, tend, swerve; c. D wrijgen to twist; akin to OE wrigels, L ricula veil, Gk rhoikós crooked ]
Syn. 2. awry, askew.
Ant. 2. straight.