Hypertext Webster Gateway: "wrenching"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Wrench \Wrench\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wrenched}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Wrenching}.] [OE. wrenchen, AS. wrencan to deceive,
properly, to twist, from wrenc guile, deceit, a twisting.
????. See {Wrench}, n.]
1. To pull with a twist; to wrest, twist, or force by
violence.
Wrench his sword from him. --Shak.
Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched With a
woeful agony. --Coleridge.
2. To strain; to sprain; hence, to distort; to pervert.
You wrenched your foot against a stone. --Swift.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
wrenching
adj : causing great physical or mental suffering; "a wrenching
pain" [syn: {racking}]
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