Dictionary

wreath en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ɹiθ/ (General-American)
• /ɹiːθ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• rēth

Etymology

From Middle English wreth, wrethe (“coiled or rounded shape; decorative garland, wreath; chaplet, crown; ring”, noun), from Old English *wreoþa, wriþa (“band, coil, ring”), from Proto-West Germanic *wriþō, from Proto-Germanic *wriþô, from *wrīþaną (“to twist; to weave”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist”). Doublet of wreathe and writhe.

Meanings

1. Something twisted, intertwined, or curled.
   • a wreath of smoke    a wreath of clouds
   • The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. Whirling wreaths and columns of burning wind, rushed around and over them. 1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, in The Lonely Pyramid: A Tale of Adventures, being the Strange Experiences of Roy LeFevre in the Desert during the Year 1884, London; Glasgow; Edinburgh; Dublin: Blackie and Son, →OCLC:
2. An ornamental circular band made, for example, of plaited flowers and leaves, and used as decoration; a garland or chaplet, especially one given to a victor.
   • So, after a spell, he decided to make the best of it and shoved us into the front parlor. 'Twas a dismal sort of place, with hair wreaths, and wax fruit, and tin lambrekins, and land knows what all. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter XII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
   • On April 16, several hundred students went to Tiananmen Square to place wreaths around the massive Monument to the People’s Heroes, an action that should have alerted the authorities to possible unrest. 1989, Yi Mu, Mark V. Thompson, Crisis at Tiananmen: Reform and Reality in Modern China, San Francisco: China Books, →ISBN, page 16:
3. A defect in glass.
4. An appendage to the shield, placed above it, and supporting the crest; an orle, a torse. It generally represents a twist of two cords of silk, one tinctured like the principal metal, the other like the principal color in the coat of arms.

Forms

Deriveds

olive wreath · laurel wreath · bridal wreath · wreathwork · Advent wreath · oak wreath · Yule wreath · snow wreath · wreath product · Hippocratic wreath

Synonyms

orle · torse

Translations (125)

is krans (ornamental circular band) · pt virol (heraldry: support of a crest) · sv hjälmbindel (heraldry: support of a crest) · fi kiehkura (something twisted and curled) · da vulst (heraldry: support of a crest) · sw taji la maua (ornamental circular band) · ru гирля́нда (heraldry: support of a crest) · kw garlont (ornamental circular band) · vi vòng hoa (ornamental circular band) · ba таж (ornamental circular band) · fa-ira حَلْقِه (something twisted and curled) · sl venec (ornamental circular band) · de Wulst (heraldry: support of a crest) · es burelete (heraldry: support of a crest) · ko 화륜 (ornamental circular band) · az əklil (ornamental circular band) · fr tortil (heraldry: support of a crest) · it voluta (something twisted and curled) · tg гулчанбар (ornamental circular band) · cmn 花圈 (ornamental circular band) · id bumban (ornamental circular band) · fa-ira حَلْقِهٔ گُل (ornamental circular band) · gl cambelo (something twisted and curled) · nl wrong (heraldry: support of a crest) · fi seppele (ornamental circular band) · ky гүлчамбар (ornamental circular band) · grc στέμμα (ornamental circular band) · el στεφάνι (ornamental circular band) · sv krans (ornamental circular band) · ca corona (ornamental circular band) · kk гүлшеңбер (ornamental circular band) · enm wrethe (something twisted and curled) · it spirale (something twisted and curled) · ru вито́к (something twisted and curled) · fa-ira بَساک (ornamental circular band) · ru вене́ц (ornamental circular band) · he זֵר (ornamental circular band) · dsb wěnc (ornamental circular band) · la corōna (ornamental circular band) · fi lakipunos (heraldry: support of a crest) · lt vainikas (ornamental circular band) · pl zawój (heraldry: support of a crest) · fa-ira تاجِ گُل (ornamental circular band) · sh vénac (ornamental circular band) · pt guirlanda (ornamental circular band) · bg вене́ц (ornamental circular band) · ru гирля́нда (ornamental circular band) · nn krans (ornamental circular band) · sk veniec (ornamental circular band) · de Gebinde (ornamental circular band) · be вяне́ц (ornamental circular band) · cu вѣньць (ornamental circular band) · th หรีด (ornamental circular band) · sh vijénac (ornamental circular band) · pl kłąb (something twisted and curled) · ja リース (ornamental circular band) · gl burela (heraldry: support of a crest) · be вяно́к (ornamental circular band) · nl krans (ornamental circular band) · fr couronne (ornamental circular band) · mi puapua whakamahara (ornamental circular band) · ug گۈلچەمبەر (ornamental circular band) · hy պսակ (ornamental circular band) · gl grilanda (ornamental circular band) · cs věnec (ornamental circular band) · ko 화환 (ornamental circular band) · fi kranssi (ornamental circular band) · ru вено́к (ornamental circular band) · de Helmwulst (heraldry: support of a crest) · la serta (ornamental circular band) · cmn 花環 /花环 (ornamental circular band) · hu koszorú (ornamental circular band) · vo kronül (ornamental circular band) · gl torgallo (something twisted and curled) · egy mA-A-H-V6 (ornamental circular band) · ro coroană (ornamental circular band) · pl wianek (ornamental circular band) · it ghirlanda (ornamental circular band) · it ghirlanda (heraldry: support of a crest) · pt grinalda (ornamental circular band) · cy torch (something twisted and curled) · th มาลา (ornamental circular band) · cy plethdorch (ornamental circular band) · da krans (ornamental circular band) · got 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐍀𐍃 (ornamental circular band) · mk ве́нец (heraldry: support of a crest) · kk гүлдесте (ornamental circular band) · cy torch (ornamental circular band) · mi puapua (ornamental circular band) · eo krono (ornamental circular band) · mn цэцгийн хэлхээ (ornamental circular band) · gl cambieito (something twisted and curled) · sh вије́нац (ornamental circular band) · it corona (ornamental circular band) · uk віно́к (ornamental circular band) · sh ве́нац (ornamental circular band) · mk ве́нец (ornamental circular band) · ltg vaiņuks (ornamental circular band) · izh venokka (ornamental circular band) · yi קראַנץ (ornamental circular band) · ro cunună (ornamental circular band) · sv bindel (heraldry: support of a crest) · pl wieniec (ornamental circular band) · uz gulchambar (ornamental circular band) · ja 花輪 (ornamental circular band) · lv vainags (ornamental circular band) · fr guirlande (heraldry: support of a crest) · tr çelenk (ornamental circular band) · de Kranz (ornamental circular band) · sv vulst (heraldry: support of a crest) · az əkil (ornamental circular band) · he עֲטָרָה (ornamental circular band) · ar إِكْلِيل (ornamental circular band) · az çələng (ornamental circular band) · et pärg (ornamental circular band) · sv hjälmkrans (heraldry: support of a crest) · pdt Krauns (ornamental circular band) · nb krans (ornamental circular band) · uk віне́ць (ornamental circular band) · fo kransur (ornamental circular band) · eo girlando (ornamental circular band) · ka გვირგვინი (ornamental circular band) · ga fleasc (ornamental circular band) · ru завито́к (something twisted and curled) · enm wrethe (ornamental circular band)

wreath en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ɹiθ/ (General-American)
• /ɹið/ (General-American)
• /ɹiːð/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ɹiːθ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• rēth (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

See wreathe.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative spelling of wreathe.
   alt of wreathe
   • The bitings of lyons and ſuch like beaſtes are ſo dangerous, in regard of their ſtrength and fierceneſſe, for they doe not onely bite, but alſo vvreath and teare the vvounds vvhich they make vvith their teeth, or nailes: […] 1607, Conradus Gesnerus [i.e., Conrad Gessner]; Edward Topsell, “Of the Lyon. [The Medicines of the Lyon.]”, in The Historie of Foure-footed Beastes. […], London: […] William Iaggard, →OCLC, page 487:
   • The coronation of Edgar raised English kings to the level of emperors, and it initiated the mystical and sometimes almost sacerdotal status with which the English royal family was to wreath itself for centuries to come. 1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 108:
   • And forasmuch as by their frequent passing under the Roller, they [blankets for printing] are squezed together and become stubburne, and churlish: you shall doe well to spread and extend them at night; and the morning (ere you employ them) to wreath, rub, slap and smooth them till you have rendred them very soft and gentle: […] 1662 May 24 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), J[ohn] Evelyn, “Of the Other Necessaries, Instruments and Appurtenances Belonging to the Press; and Touched onely in the Precedent Chapter”, in C[harles] F[rancis] Bell, editor, Evelyn’s Sculptura with the Unpublished Second Part, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press [by Horace Hart […]], published 1906, →OCLC, book II (The Construction of the Rowling Press, and Manner how to Worke off the Plates), page 15:
   • But hovv ſhould I avoid to be her ſlave, / VVhoſe ſubtle art inviſibly can vvreath / My fetters of the very air I breathe? a. 1679 (date written), Andrew Marvell, “[Poems on Several Occasions.] The Fair Singer.”, in The Works of Andrew Marvell, Esq.: Poetical, Controversial, and Political, […], volume III, London: […] Henry Baldwin, and sold by [James] Dodsley, […], published 1776, →OCLC, stanza II, page 246:
   • Sale) or Salovv a kind of vvoodde like VVyllovv, fit to vvreath and bynde in leapes to catch fiſh vvithall. 1579, E. K., “[December. Ægloga Duodecima.] Glosse.”, in Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Hugh Singleton, […], →OCLC, folio 51, verso:
   • Tho' wit may flash from fluent lips, and mirth distract the breast, / Through midnight hours that yield no more their former hope of rest; / 'Tis but as ivy-leaves around the ruin'd turret wreath, / All green and wildly fresh without, but worn and grey beneath. 1815 March (date written), Lord Byron, “Stanzas for Music”, in Poems, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […]; by W[illiam] Bulmer and Co. […], published 1816, →OCLC, stanza 4, page 18:
   • Eſcap'd the flaſhing of the noontide hours / VVith one freſh garland of Pierian flovvers / (Ere from thy zephyr-haunted brink I turn) / My languid hand ſhall vvreath thy moſſy urn. 1796, S[amuel] T[aylor] Coleridge, “Lines to a Beautiful Spring in a Village”, in Poems on Various Subjects, London: […] G[eorge] G[eorge] and J[ohn] Robinsons, and J[oseph] Cottle, […], →OCLC, page 28:
   • [W]ith Laurels vvreath your poſts, / And ſtrovv vvith Flovv'rs the Pavement; […] 1677 (first performance), John Dryden, All for Love: Or, The World Well Lost. A Tragedy, […], [London]: […] Tho[mas] Newcomb, for Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC, Act I, page 5:
   • [F]or griefe his hart did grate, / And from ſo heauie ſight his head did vvreath, / Accuſing fortune, and too cruell fate, / VVhich plonged had faire Lady in ſo vvretched ſtate. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 56, page 203:
   • [T]o wreſt the will of man, or to wreath his hearte to our humours, it is not in the compaſſe of Arte, but in the power of the moſt higheſt. 1580, Iohn Lyly [i.e., John Lyly], Euphues and His England. […], London: […] [Thomas East] for Gabriell Cawood, […], →OCLC, folio 63, recto:
   • [T]he Beards of vvilde Oates, and thoſe of divers other vvilde Plants; […] almoſt continually vvreath and unvvreath themſelves according to, even, the light variations of the temperature of the ambient Air. 1659 December 30 (date written), Robert Boyle, “A Digression Containing Some Doubts Touching Respiration”, in New Experiments Physico-Mechanicall, Touching the Spring of the Air, and Its Effects […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] H[enry] Hall, printer to the University, for Tho[mas] Robinson, published 1660, →OCLC, page 379:
   • Death's Harbingers, lye latent in the Draught: / And in the Flovv'rs that vvreath the ſparkling Bovvl, / Fell Adders hiſs, and poys'nous Serpents roll. 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Solomon on the Vanity of the World. A Poem in Three Books.”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC, book II (Pleasure), page 436:
   • [Y]ou haue learn'd (like Sir Protheus) to vvreath your Armes like a Male-content: […] c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 23, column 2:

Forms

Deriveds

unwreath