Hypertext Webster Gateway: "wreath"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Wreath \Wreath\ (?; 277), n.; pl. {Wreaths}. [OE. wrethe, AS.
wr[=ae][eth] a twisted band, fr. wr[=i][eth]an to twist. See
{Writhe}.]
1. Something twisted, intertwined, or curled; as, a wreath of
smoke; a wreath of flowers. ``A wrethe of gold.''
--Chaucer.

[He] of his tortuous train Curled many a wanton
wreath. --Milton.

2. A garland; a chaplet, esp. one given to a victor.

Conquest doth grant He dear wreath to the Grecian
combatant. --Chapman.

Far back in the ages, The plow with wreaths was
crowned. --Bryant.

3. (Her.) An appendage to the shield, placed above it, and
supporting the crest (see Illust. of {Crest}). It
generally represents a twist of two cords of silk, one
tinctured like the principal metal, the other like the
principal color in the arms.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Wreathe \Wreathe\, v. t. [imp. {Wreathed}; p. p. {Wreathed};
Archaic {Wreathen}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wreathing}.] [See
{Wreath}, n.] [Written also {wreath}.]
1. To cause to revolve or writhe; to twist about; to turn.
[Obs.]

And from so heavy sight his head did wreathe.
--Spenser.

2. To twist; to convolve; to wind one about another; to
entwine.

The nods and smiles of recognition into which this
singular physiognomy was wreathed. --Sir W.
Scott.

From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve
Down dropped. --Milton.

3. To surround with anything twisted or convolved; to
encircle; to infold.

Each wreathed in the other's arms. --Shak.

Dusk faces with withe silken turbants wreathed.
--Milton.

And with thy winding ivy wreathes her lance.
--Dryden.

4. To twine or twist about; to surround; to encircle.

In the flowers that wreathe the sparkling bowl, Fell
adders hiss. --Prior.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

wreath
n : flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage
or flowers for ornamental purposes [syn: {garland}, {coronal},
{chaplet}, {lei}]
v : encircle with or as if with a wreath; "Her face was wreathed
with blossoms" [syn: {wreathe}]


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