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Added 8 October 2026

wreathe

/ɹiːð/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about wreathe at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Senses relating to intertwining or twisting. To coil, curl, or twist (something); to shape (something) into circles or coils.
:
To coil, curl, or twist (something); to shape (something) into circles or coils.
:
To coil, curl, or twist (something); to shape (something) into circles or coils.

Origin

From Middle English wrethen (“to twist”), partly: * from wrethen (“twisted, wreathed”) (whence modern English wreathen (“(obsolete) made into a wreath; twisted”, adjective)), the past participle of writhen, wrythen (“to twist into a braid, coil, or wreath; to twist out of position or shape, deform; to twist together, intertwine; to twist about, writhe; to bend; to swathe, wrap; etc.”), from Old English wrīþan (“to twist; to bind; to wrap”), from Proto-West Germanic *wrīþan (“to twist; to weave”), from Proto-Germanic *wrīþaną (“to twist; to weave”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist”); and * from wreth, wrethe (“coiled or rounded shape; decorative garland, wreath; chaplet, crown; ri.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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