wresting

Wrest \Wrest\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wrested}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Wresting}.] [OE. wresten, AS. wr?stan; akin to wr?? a
   twisted band, and wr[imac]?n to twist. See {Writhe}.]
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   1. To turn; to twist; esp., to twist or extort by violence;
      to pull of force away by, or as if by, violent wringing or
      twisting. "The secret wrested from me." --Milton.
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            Our country's cause,
            That drew our swords, now secret wrests them from
            our hand.                             --Addison.
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            They instantly wrested the government out of the
            hands of Hastings.                    --Macaulay.
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   2. To turn from truth; to twist from its natural or proper
      use or meaning by violence; to pervert; to distort.
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            Wrest once the law to your authority. --Shak.
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            Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor. --Ex.
                                                  xxiii. 6.
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            Their arts of wresting, corrupting, and false
            interpreting the holy text.           --South.
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   3. To tune with a wrest, or key. [Obs.]
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