† wrenkn.
Scottish and northern. Obsolete.
1. = wrench n.1 1. Frequently coupled with wile.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > a wile or cunning device
wrenchc888
craftOE
turnc1225
ginc1275
play?a1300
enginec1300
wrenkc1325
forsetc1330
sleightc1340
knackc1369
cautel138.
subtletya1393
wilea1400
tramc1400
wrinkle1402
artc1405
policy?1406
subtilityc1410
subtiltyc1440
jeopardy1487
jouk1513
pawka1522
frask1524
false point?1528
conveyance1534
compass1540
fineness1546
far-fetch?a1562
stratagem1561
finesse1562
entrapping1564
convoyance1578
lift1592
imagine1594
agitation1600
subtleship1614
artifice1620
navation1628
wimple1638
rig1640
lapwing stratagem1676
feint1679
undercraft1691
fly-flap1726
management1736
fakement1811
old tricka1822
fake1829
trickeration1940
swiftie1945
shrewdie1961
c1325 Metr. Hom. Prol. 2 Thou filde this gaste sa full of witte..That al bestes er red for man, Sa mani wyle and wrenk he can.
c1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 1360 Þe world..ledes a man with wrenkes and wyles.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 13336 Na wrenkes [Vesp. wrenches] of þe maledight Againes hir sal haue no might.
c1440 York Myst. xxx. 67 With wrynkis and with wiles to wend me my weys.
a1500 in Ratis Raving 3 the deuill wyll cast mony wrenkis of falsait.
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Fox, Wolf, & Cadger l. 1987 in Poems (1981) 77 For euerie wrink, forsuith, thow hes ane wyle.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 249 In me..wes mony wrink and wyle.
1568 Mersar in G. A. Panton & J. B. Barclay Bannatyne MS (1896) IV. 808 For every wrynk luk that ye haif a wyle.
2. Trickery, deception; = wrench n.1 2.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun]
swikec893
swikedomc893
dwalec950
braida1000
falsec1000
flerdc1000
swikelnessa1023
fakenOE
chuffingc1175
fikenungc1175
bipechingc1200
treachery?c1225
falseshipc1230
guilec1230
telingc1230
swikeheada1250
craftc1275
felony1297
wrench1297
deceitc1300
gabc1300
guiling13..
guilery1303
quaintisec1325
wrenk1338
beswiking1340
falsehood1340
abetc1350
wissing1357
wilec1374
faitery1377
faiting1377
tregetryc1380
fallacec1384
trainc1390
coverture1393
facrere1393
ficklenessc1397
falsagea1400
tregeta1400
abusionc1405
blearingc1405
deceptionc1430
mean?c1430
tricotc1430
obreption1465
fallacy1481
japery1496
gauderya1529
fallax1530
conveyance1531
legerdemain1532
dole1538
trompe1547
joukery1562
convoyance1578
forgery1582
abetment1586
outreaching1587
chicanery1589
falsery1594
falsity1603
fubbery1604
renaldry1612
supercherie1621
circumduction1623
fobbinga1627
dice-play1633
beguile1637
fallaxitya1641
ingannation1646
hocus1652
renardism1661
dodgerya1670
knapping1671
trap1681
joukery-pawkery1686
jugglery1699
take-in1772
tripotage1779
trickery1801
ruse1807
dupery1816
nailing1819
pawkery1820
hanky-panky1841
hokey-pokey1847
suck-in1856
phenakisma1863
skulduggery1867
sharp practice1869
dodginess1871
jiggery-pokery1893
flim-flammery1898
runaround1915
hanky1924
to give the go-around1925
Scandiknavery1927
the twist1933
hype1955
mamaguy1971
1338 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 246 For falshed & for wrenk he forsuore þe land.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
† wrenkv.
Obsolete. rare.
1. intransitive. To writhe; to turn away.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > writhing or twisting movement > writhe or twist [verb (intransitive)]
wendOE
throwOE
to-writhec1000
windc1000
wrenchc1050
writhec1300
wrenka1400
wrestle?a1400
chervec1440
wring1470
wrele1513
wriggle1573
wrincha1625
curla1637
twingle1647
twine1666
twirl1706
retort1720
the world > space > direction > point or lie in a direction [verb (intransitive)] > turn round or to face a direction > turn away
abowOE
hieldc1275
to turn awayc1300
to hide one's facea1382
wrenka1400
awherfc1400
avert1483
to turn the backc1540
twine1600
averse1652
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19353 Þan be-gan þai wrenk [Gött. wrinck, Fairf. wrenche] and wrest, And for tene þair tethe to gnast.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17458 Bot iesu crist þat rightwis es,..A-wai to wrenk he dos þe wrang.
2. transitive. To turn aside, to divert from oneself. (Cf. wrench v. 4b.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > turn aside or divert from oneself
wrenka1300
a1300 Cursor Mundi 26385 Þis ypocrites..wald ai wrenk þair aun wites, For to sem þam-self god and lele.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.c1325v.a1300