Wrest (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wrested; p. pr. & vb. n. Wresting.] [OE. wresten, AS. wr&unr_;stan; akin to wr&unr_;&unr_; a twisted band, and wrī&unr_;n to twist. See Writhe.]
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1. To turn; to twist; esp., to twist or extort by violence; to pull of force away by, or as if by, violent wringing or twisting. “The secret wrested from me.” Milton.
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Our country's cause,
That drew our swords, now secret wrests them from our hand. Addison.
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They instantly wrested the government out of the hands of Hastings. Macaulay.
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2. To turn from truth; to twist from its natural or proper use or meaning by violence; to pervert; to distort.
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Wrest once the law to your authority. Shak.
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Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor. Ex. xxiii. 6.
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Their arts of wresting, corrupting, and false interpreting the holy text. South.
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3. To tune with a wrest, or key. [Obs.]
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