Wreath and Writhe Both Mean Twisting
A wreath is a ring of flowers or leaves. It comes from the same root as writhe, and both are about twisting.
A wreath is a ring of flowers or foliage, worn or laid as a tribute. It comes from the same Old English root as *writhe*, to twist β a wreath is a twisted thing, made by winding stems around one another. Roman and Greek victors wore laurel wreaths, which is where *laureate* comes from, and where the crown on a modern medal design usually originates.
- A ring of flowers or leaves. *A funeral wreath.*
- A Christmas decoration. *A holly wreath on the door.*
- A ring of smoke or mist. *Wreaths of fog.*
- Verb, to wreathe. *Mist wreathed the valley.*
- Laurel wreath β a victor's crown. *Crowned with a laurel wreath.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | wreath | A green wreath. |
| Plural | wreaths | Laid wreaths. |
| Verb | wreathe | Wreathed in smiles. |
| Related | writhe | Writhing in pain. |
| Related | wrist | A broken wrist. |
- Wreaths were laid at the memorial.Remembrance.
- Her face was wreathed in smiles.A fixed expression.
- A laurel wreath crowned the victor.Classical.
The twisting family
- Writhe β to twist the body
- Wreath β a twisted ring
- Wrist β the joint that turns
- Wring β to twist and squeeze
- Wrench, wrangle, wry β all from the same wr- cluster about twisting
Old English *writha*, a band or ring, from *wrΔ«than*, to twist. Nearly all English wr- words carry some idea of twisting or turning.
Why do so many English words start with wr-?
Because that cluster carried a sense of twisting: writhe, wring, wrist, wrench, wrap and wry all involve turning.
Where does laureate come from?
From the laurel wreath awarded to victors and poets in the classical world.