wrestern.
/ˈrɛstə/ 1. † b. An implement for picking locks. Obsolete. rare.
a. One who wrests or wrenches; a twister; †one who tunes with a wrest.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > writhing or twisting movement > [noun] > one who writhes > one who twists violently
wrester1504
wrencher1847
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > tuning or intonation > [noun] > tuner > of strings
wrester1504
1504 W. Cornishe in J. Skelton Pithy Pleasaunt & Profitable Wks. (1568) sig. Zvj Any Instrument mystunyd shall hurt a trew song; Yet blame not the claricord ye wrester doth wrong.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum (at cited word) Wryste or wrythe, extorqueo. Wryster and wrynger, idem.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Retordeur,..a wrester, a retorter, a wrier backe.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > key > skeleton key or picklock
picklock1567
wrester1591
picklock key1609
gilk1610
gilt1667
ginny1669
dub1699
false key1701
screwa1790
skeleton key1810
twirl1879
skeleton1884
pick1890
twirler1921
1591 R. Greene Second Pt. Conny-catching sig. B The Pickelocke, is called a Charme. He that watcheth, a Stond. There engins, Wresters.
2. One who wrests, strains, or deflects the meaning or application of words, etc.; a perverter, distorter.
ΘΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > distortion or perversion of meaning > [noun] > one who perverts
adulterer?c1430
writher1498
perverter?a1500
wrester1533
corruptera1538
wringerc1560
racker1565
wreather1566
hackera1603
wracker1719
torturer1830
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > misrepresentation > [noun] > one who misrepresents
wrester1533
misrepresenter1688
1533 T. More 2nd Pt. Confut. Tyndals Answere iv. p. iiii A false wryther and wrester of holy scrypture.
1560 J. Jewel Let. in J. Jewel & H. Cole True Copies Lett. sig. J.vi A falsarie a wrester, a corrupter of the Doctoures.
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Phormio ii. ii, in Terence in Eng. 412 A troubler of good men, and a wrester of lawes.
1629 H. Burton Truth's Triumph 348 All such wresters and peruerters of the truth.
1673 E. Hickeringill Gregory 310 Antick foppish jugglers, and wresters of Holy Writ.
a1732 F. Atterbury Serm. Several Occas. (1734) I. 287 In the First of these Senses,..these Wresters of it Bent and Warped the streight Line and Measure of their Duty.
1891 W. C. Wilkinson Epic of Saul i. 21 Those wresters of the law must feel the law.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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n.1504