wreathe

Meanings

1. Senses relating to intertwining or twisting.
2. To coil, curl, or twist (something); to shape (something) into circles or coils.
3. To adorn (someone or something) with a garland or wreath.
4. Of flowers, leaves, etc.: to form the shape of a wreath around (something).
5. Often followed by in and the thing encircling: to coil or spiral around, or encircle, (someone or something); (by extension) to cover or envelop (someone or something).
6. Followed by about, around, or round: to coil, twist, or wind (oneself or something) around a person or thing; (by extension) to cause (oneself or something) to cover or encircle a person or thing.
7. Often followed by together: to entwine or twist (two or more people or things) together; to intertwine, to interweave.
8. To form (a crown, garland, wreath, etc.) by entwining or twisting flowers, leaves, etc., together; also, to entwine or twist (flowers, leaves, etc.) together to form a crown, garland, wreath, etc.
9. To strengthen (an earthen embankment) with hurdles of wattle.
10. To form (something) by entwining or twisting two or more things together; also, to entwine or twist (something) with another thing.
11. Followed by on: to place (a yoke, symbolizing a burden) on someone's neck.
12. Followed by about, around, or round: to coil, twist, or wind around a person or thing.

Etymology

From Middle English wrethen (“to twist”), partly: * from wrethen (“twisted, wreathed”) (whence modern English wreathen (“(obsolete) made into a wreath; twisted”, adjective)), the past participle of writhen, wrythen (“to twist into a braid, coil, or wreath; to twist out of position or shape, deform; to twist together, intertwine; to twist about, writhe; to bend; to swathe, wrap; etc.”), from Old English wrīþan (“to twist; to bind; to wrap”), from Proto-West Germanic *wrīþan (“to twist; to weave”), from Proto-Germanic *wrīþaną (“to twist; to weave”), from Proto-Indo-European *wreyt- (“to twist”); and * from wreth, wrethe (“coiled or rounded shape; decorative garland, wreath; chaplet, crown; ring”, noun), from Old English wrǣd, wrǣþ, wriþa (“bandage”), from Proto-West Germanic *wrīþan (“to twist; to weave”) (see further above).