from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Wry \Wry\, a. [Compar. {Wrier}; superl. {Wriest}.] [Akin to OE.
wrien to twist, to bend, AS. wrigian to tend towards, to
drive.]
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1. Turned to one side; twisted; distorted; as, a wry mouth.
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2. Hence, deviating from the right direction; misdirected;
out of place; as, wry words.
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Not according to the wry rigor of our neighbors, who
never take up an old idea without some extravagance
in its application. --Landor.
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3. Wrested; perverted.
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He . . . puts a wry sense upon Protestant writers.
--Atterbury.
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{Wry face}, a distortion of the countenance indicating
impatience, disgust, or discomfort; a grimace.
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