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wrest

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
wrest  (rst)
tr.v. wrest·ed, wrest·ing, wrests
1. To obtain by or as if by pulling with violent twisting movements: wrested the book out of his hands; wrested the islands from the settlers.
2. To usurp forcefully: wrested power from the monarchy.
3. To extract by or as if by force, twisting, or persistent effort; wring: wrest the meaning from an obscure poem.
4.
a. To distort or twist the nature or meaning of: wrested the words out of context.
b. To divert to an improper use; misapply.
n.
1. The act of wresting.
2. Music A small tuning key for the wrest pins of a stringed instrument.

[Middle English wresten, from Old English wrstan, to twist; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.]

wrester n.

wrest
Verb
1. to take (something) away from someone with a violent pull or twist
2. to seize forcibly by violent or unlawful means: she must begin to wrest control of the army and the police [Old English wrǣstan]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.wrest - obtain by seizing forcibly or violently, also metaphorically; "wrest the knife from his hands"; "wrest a meaning from the old text"; "wrest power from the old government"
seize - take or capture by force; "The terrorists seized the politicians"; "The rebels threaten to seize civilian hostages"

wrest
verb 1. seize, take, win, extract
Translations
wrest [rɛst] vt to wrest sth from sb → arrebatar or arrancar algo a algn
wrest [rɛst] vt to wrest sth from sb → arracher or ravir qch à qn
wrest [rɛst] vt to wrest sth from sb → jdm etw abringen
wrest [rɛst] vt to wrest sth from sb → strappare qc a qn


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Besides, this idea of Jonah's weathering the Cape of Good Hope at so early a day would wrest the honor of the discovery of that great headland from Bartholomew Diaz, its reputed discoverer, and so make modern history a liar.
Having impulsively, it is probable, and perhaps somewhat prematurely revealed the prime but private purpose of the Pequod's voyage, Ahab was now entirely conscious that, in so doing, he had indirectly laid himself open to the unanswerable charge of usurpation; and with perfect impunity, both moral and legal, his crew if so disposed, and to that end competent, could refuse all further obedience to him, and even violently wrest from him the command.
His love for my mother had never diminished, and his own ambition in life was to reach a point where he might wrest the metal from Tal Hajus himself, and thus, as ruler of the Tharks, be free to claim her as his own, as well as, by the might of his power, protect the child which otherwise would be quickly dispatched should the truth become known.
 
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