wrynessn.
/ˈrʌɪnᵻs/, U.S. /ˈraɪnᵻs/ 1. The fact or condition of being wry or distorted; distortion, twisting.
ΘΠ
the world > space > shape > misshapenness > [noun] > crookedness
wrengthc1220
crookednessa1398
wrongnessc1440
wryness1591
the world > space > shape > misshapenness > [noun] > action or fact of putting or being out of shape > distortion
beshrewinga1425
distortion1581
wryness1591
contortion1611
distorture1613
distortedness1684
wringing1706
twisting1725
cross-winding1815
twistification1835
detortion1853
twinge1860
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Tortedad Crookednes, wrines, obliquitas.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 107 The waight of a groate thereof..helpeth the conuulsion and wrynesse of the mouth.
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1953) I. 178 This is tortuositas serpentis, The wryness, the knottiness, the entangling of the Serpent.
1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. xxxi. 256 A perversive Wriness and Convulsion of the Muscles.
1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner i. ii. x. 35 A large Garden would..be less pleasing..if it had..some visible wriness to disfigure it.
1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. iv. 259 A bitter taste produces wryness and contortion of the mouth.
1857 C. Dickens Little Dorrit ii. xxvi. 542 The wryness of his face and the uneasiness of his limbs.
1898 G. Meredith Later Alexandrian in Poems (1898) I. 200 An inspiration caught from dubious hues, Filled him, and mystic wrynesses he chased.
2. figurative. Deviation from what is regular or normal; obliquity, wrongness.
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > [noun] > wrongness of behaviour
wryness1633
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > irregularity > unconformity > [noun] > deviation from rule or standard
aberration1588
abhorrency1592
deviation1603
digression1615
wryness1633
anomalism1668
anomalousness1698
aberrance1865
1633 W. Ames Fresh Suit against Human Ceremonies ii. 498 Notwithstanding all this weaknesse, and wrinesse of these instances, the Rej. doth so triumph in them.
1648 W. Montagu Miscellanea Spiritualia i. xii. 143 An exploring the rectitude or wrynesse of their behaviours in this particular.
1906 T. Hardy Dynasts: Pt. 2nd iv. v. 173 The wryness of the times.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1591