WRIGGLE, rig'l, _v.i._ to twist to and fro: to move sinuously: to use
crooked means.--_v.t._ to cause to wriggle.--_n._ the motion of
wriggling.--_ns._ WRIGG'LER, one who wriggles: one who uses trickery;
WRIGG'LING;. [A freq. of obs. _wrig_, to move about, itself a variant of
_wrick_, M. E. _wrikken_, to twist; cf. Dut. _wriggelen_, to wriggle.]
WRIGHT, r[=i]t, _n._ a maker (chiefly used in compounds, as ship-_wright_,
&c.). [A.S. _wyrhta_--_wyrht_, a work--_wyrcan_, to work.]
WRING, ring, _v.t._ to twist: to force, or force out, by twisting: to force
or compress: to pain: to extort: to bend out of its position.--_v.i._ to
writhe: to twist:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ wrung, (_B._) wringed.--_ns._
WRING'-BOLT, a bolt with a ring or eye, used to secure a ship's planks
against the frame till they are permanently fixed in place; WRING'ER, one
who wrings: a machine for forcing water from wet clothes--also
WRING'ING-MACHINE'.--_adj._ WRING'ING-WET, so wet that water can be wrung
out.--_n.pl._ WRING'-STAVES, strong pieces of wood used in applying
wring-bolts.--WRING FROM, to extort; WRING OFF, to force off by wringing;
WRING OUT, to squeeze out by twisting; WRING THE HANDS, to manifest grief
by convulsive clasping of the hands. [A.S. _wringan_, to twist; Dut.
_wringen_, Ger. _ringen_. Cf. _Wreak_, _Wry_.]
WRINKLE, ring'kl, _n._ (_coll._) a tip, valuable hint. [Perh. from A.S.
_wrenc_, a trick. Cf. _Wrench_.]
WRINKLE, ring'kl, _n._ a small ridge on a surface caused by twisting or
shrinking: unevenness.--_v.t._ to contract into wrinkles or furrows: to
make rough.--_v.i._ to shrink into ridges.--_adj._ WRINK'LY, full of
wrinkles: liable to be wrinkled. [M. E. _wrinkel_, conn. with A.S.
_wringan_, to twist; prob. related to Sw. _rynka_, Dan. _rynke_, a
wrinkle.]
WRIST, rist, _n._ the joint by which the hand is united to the arm: a stud
or pin projecting from the side of a crank.--_ns._ WRIST'BAND, the band or
part of a sleeve which covers the wrist; WRIST'-DROP, inability to extend
the hand, often caused by lead-poisoning; WRIST'LET, an elastic band used
to confine the upper part of a glove to the wrist: a bracelet: (_slang_) a
handcuff; WRIST'-PLATE, an oscillating plate bearing wrist-pins for the
connection of rods or pitmans, as on the cut-off gear of an engine;
WRIST'-PIN, any pin connecting a pitman to a cross-head; WRIST'-SHOT, in
golf, a short stroke usually played with an iron, from the wrist, without
swinging the club over the shoulder. [A.S. _wrist_--_wríthan_, to twist;
Ger. _rist_.]
WRIT, rit, obsolete _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _write_.
WRIT, rit, _n._ a writing: (_law_) a written document by which one is
summoned or required to do something: a formal document, any writing.--HOLY
WRIT, the Scriptures.--SERVE A WRIT ON, to deliver a summons to.
WRITE, r[=i]t, _v.t._ to form letters with a pen or pencil: to express in
writing: to compose: to engrave: to record: to communicate by
letter.--_v.i._ to perform the act of writing: to be employed as a clerk:
to compose books: to send letters: to practise the art of writing: to work
as an author: to compose a letter:--_pr.p._ wr[=i]'ting; _pa.t._ wr[=o]te;
_pa.p._ writ'ten.--_ns._ WR[=I]'TER, one who writes: a professional scribe
or clerk: an ordinary legal practitioner in Scotch country towns: an
author: a petty officer in the United States navy who keeps the
watch-muster and other books of the ship--usually _Ship-writer_:--_fem._
WR[=I]'TERESS (_rare_); WR[=I]'TER'S-CRAMP (see CRAMP); WR[=I]'TERSHIP, the
office of a writer; WR[=I]'TING, the forming letters with a pen or pencil:
that which is written: literary production; WR[=I]'TING-BOOK, a book of
paper for practising penmanship; WR[=I]'TING-CASE, a portable case
containing materials for writing; WR[=I]'TING-CHAM'BER, a room fitted for
writing: a law office; WR[=I]'TING-DESK, a desk with a sloping top for
writing upon: a portable writing-case; WR[=I]'TING-INK, ink suited for
writing with; WR[=I]'TING-MAS'TER, a master who teaches the art of
penmanship: the yellow-bunting; WR[=I]TING-P[=A]'PER, paper finished with a
smooth surface, for writing upon; WR[=I]'TING-SCHOOL, a school for
penmanship; WR[=I]'TING-T[=A]'BLE, a table fitted or used for writing
upon.--_adj._ WRIT'TEN, reduced to writing--opposed to _Oral_.--WRITERS TO
THE SIGNET, an ancient society of solicitors in Scotland who formerly had
the exclusive right to prepare all summonses and other writs pertaining to
the supreme court of justice, and still have the exclusive privilege of
preparing crown writs, which include all charters, precepts, and writs from
the sovereign or prince of Scotland.--WRITE DOWN, to put down in written
characters: to condemn in writing; WRITE OFF, to cancel by an entry on the
opposite side of the account; WRITE OUT, to transcribe: to exhaust one's
mental capacity by too much writing; WRITE UP, to put a full description of
in writing: to praise something in writing above its merits. [A.S.
_wrítan_; Ice. _ríta_; the original meaning being 'to scratch' (cf. the
cog. Ger. _reissen_, to tear).]
WRITHE, r[=i]th, _v.t._ to turn to and fro: to twist violently: to wrest:
(_obs._) to extort.--_v.i._ to twist.--_n._ (_rare_) a contortion.--_adv._
WR[=I]'THINGLY. [A.S. _wríthan_, to twist; Ice. _rítha_. Cf. _Wreath_,
_Wrest_, _Wrist_.]
WRITHLE, rith'l, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to wrinkle: (_Shak._) to shrivel.
WRIZZLED, riz'ld, _adj._ (_Spens._) wrinkled.
WROKE, r[=o]k, WROKEN, r[=o]k'n, obsolete _pa.p._ of _wreak_.
WRONG, rong, _adj._ not according to rule or right, deviating from what is
correct or suitable: perverse: not fit or suitable: incorrect: not right or
true.--_n._ whatever is not right or just: any injury done to another: an
erroneous view.--_adv._ not rightly.--_v.t._ to do wrong to: to deprive of
some right: to injure.--_ns._ WRONG'-DO'ER, one who does wrong: one who
injures another; WRONG'-DO'ING, evil or wicked action or conduct; WRONG'ER,
one who wrongs.--_adj._ WRONG'FUL, wrong: unjust: injurious.--_adv._
WRONG'FULLY.--_n._ WRONG'FULNESS.--_adj._ WRONG'-HEAD'ED, obstinately and
perversely stubborn.--_adv._ WRONG'-HEAD'EDLY.--_n._
WRONG'-HEAD'EDNESS.--_adv._ WRONG'LY, in a wrong manner.--_adj._
WRONG'-MIND'ED, having erroneous views.--_n._ WRONG'NESS.--_adj._
WRONG'OUS, unjust, illegal.--_adv._ WRONG'OUSLY.--_adj._ WRONG'-TIMED,
inopportune.--GO WRONG, to fail to work properly: to stray from virtue;
HAVE WRONG, to be wrong: to suffer injustice; IN THE WRONG, holding an
erroneous view or unjust position; PRIVATE WRONG, a violation of the civil
or personal rights of an individual in his private capacity; PUT IN THE
WRONG, to cause to appear in error. [A.S. _wrang_, a wrong; most prob.
Scand., Ice. _rangr_, unjust, Dan. _vrang_, wrong. Skeat explains A.S.
_wrang_ as from _wrang_, pa.t. of _wringan_, to wring, like Fr. _tort_,
from L. _tortus_, twisted.]
WROTE, r[=o]t. _pa.t._ of _write_.
WROTH, r[=o]th, _adj._ wrathful. [A.S. _wráth_, angry--_wráth_, pa.t. of
_wríthan_, to writhe; cf. Ice. _reithr_.]
WROUGHT, rawt, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _work_.--_n._ WROUGHT'-[=I]'RON,
malleable iron. [A.S. _worhte_, _geworht_, pa.t. and pa.p. of _wyrcan_,
_wircan_, to work.]
WRUNG, rung, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _wring_.
WRY, r[=i], _adj._ twisted or turned to one side: not in the right
direction.--_n._ (_prov._) distortion.--_v.i._ (_Shak._) to go
astray.--_v.t._ to give a twist to, pervert.--_n._ WRY'BILL, a New Zealand
plover with bill bent sideways.--_adv._ WRY'LY.--_adj._ WRY'-MOUTHED,
having a crooked mouth, unflattering.--_n._ WRY'-NECK, a twisted or
distorted neck: a small bird allied to the woodpecker, which twists round
its head strangely when surprised.--_adj._ WRY'-NECKED.--_n._
WRY'NESS.--MAKE A WRY FACE, or MOUTH, to pucker up the face, or mouth, in
sign of disgust or pain. [A.S. _wrigian_, to drive, bend. Ult. conn. with
_wriggle_ and _writhe_.]
WULL, wul, _v.i._ (_Spens._). Same as WILL.
WUTHER, wuth'[.e]r, _v.i._ (_prov._) to roar sullenly.--_n._ a low roaring.
[Perh. traceable to A.S. _wóth_, a cry.]
WUZZENT, wuz'ent, _adj._ (_Scot._) wizened.
WUZZLE, wuz'l, _v.t._ (_U.S._) to jumble.
WYCH-ELM, _n._ See WITCH-ELM.
WYCLIFITE, WYCLIFFITE, wik'lif-[=i]t, _adj._ pertaining to the English
reformer and translator of the Bible, John _Wycliffe_ (1325-84).--_n._ a
follower of WYCLIFFE; a Lollard.
WYKEHAMIST, wik'am-ist, _n._ a student, or former student, of Winchester
College, founded by William of _Wykeham_, Bishop of Winchester (died 1404).
WYLIE-COAT, w[=i]'li-k[=o]t, _n._ (_Scot._) a flannel undervest or
petticoat.
WYND, w[=i]nd, _n._ (_Scot._) a lane: narrow alley in a town. [Same as
_Wind_ (2).]
WYVERN, w[=i]'vrn, _n._ (_her._) a fictitious monster allied to the dragon
and the griffin, and having its two legs and feet like those of the eagle.
[O. Fr. _wivre_, a viper--L. _vipera_.]
* * * * *
X the twenty-fourth letter in our alphabet, having in modern English the
value of _ks_, which it had in Anglo-Saxon--except at the beginning of a
word, where it is pronounced like _z_. As a numeral X stands for ten, [X on
its side] for a thousand, [=X] for ten thousand; X as an abbreviation
represents the word Christ--Xian, Xmas; _x_ in algebra is the first of the
unknown quantities; and the use of X, XX, and XXX on barrels of stout is a
well-known way of indicating the quality.--X-RAYS, the name given by
Röntgen of Würzburg in 1895 to those dark or invisible rays emitted, under
the influence of an electric current, from a glass-bulb highly exhausted of
air through an aluminium window into a close box, and which when passed
through the hand or other part of the body imprint a shadow-picture of the
bones on a sensitive photographic plate--a discovery of high value in
surgery, enabling a bullet, &c., embedded in the flesh to be carefully
localised.
XANTHEINE, zan'the-in, _n._ the yellow colouring matter of flowers. [From
Gr. _xanthos_, yellow.]
XANTHIAN, zan'thi-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Xanthus_, the capital of
ancient Lycia, in Asia Minor.
XANTHIN, zan'thin, _n._ a name given to the yellow colouring matter of
various flowers, to a principle in madder, and to a deposit of urine.--_n._
XAN'THATE, a salt of xanthic acid.--_adj._ XAN'THIC. [Gr. _xanthos_,
yellow.]
XANTHIUM, zan'thi-um, _n._ a weedy plant of the aster family.--Also
_Cockle-bur_, _Clot-bur_.
XANTHOCHROI, zan-thok'roi, _n.pl._ one of the five groups of men, according
to Huxley and other ethnologists, comprising the fair whites.--_n._
XANTHOCHROI'A, a yellow discolouration of the skin.--_adjs._
XANTHOCHR[=O]'IC, XANTHOCH'R[=O]OUS. [Formed through L. from Gr. _xanthos_,
yellow, _chroa_, skin.]
XANTHOMA, zan-th[=o]'ma, _n._ a skin disease consisting of a growth of flat
or tuberculated yellowish patches, often on the eyelids.--_adj._
XANTHOMA'ATOUS. [Gr. _xanthos_, yellow.]
XANTHOMELANOUS, zan-th[=o]-mel'a-nus, _adj._ applied to a type of men with
black hair and yellow or olive skins. [Gr. _xanthos_, yellow, _melas_,
_-anos_, black.]
XANTHOPHYLL, zan'th[=o]-fil, _n._ any one of certain yellow pigments
contained in leaves.
XANTHOPSY, zan'thop-si, _n._ a kind of colour-blindness in which everything
looks yellowish.
XANTHOSIS, zan-th[=o]'sis, _n._ the formation of a yellowish pigment in the
areolar or muscular tissue, discolouring the skin--esp. in cancerous
tumours.