wring
UK: rɪŋ | US: rɪŋ
vt. to twist and squeeze something forcefully to remove liquid or alter shape
vt. to extract information or confession through coercion
vt. (archaic) to cause pain or distress
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The word wring traces back to Old English wringan, meaning "to twist, wrench, or compress." It shares roots with Germanic words like German ringen (to wrestle) and Dutch wringen (to wring). The core idea revolves around forceful twisting, whether physically (e.g., wringing water from cloth) or metaphorically (e.g., wringing the truth from someone). Over time, its usage narrowed to emphasize extraction by pressure, retaining its vivid imagery of torque and strain.
She wrung the wet towel to dry it faster.
The interrogator tried to wring a confession from the suspect.
His heart was wrung with grief after the loss.
Wring out the mop before cleaning the floor.
The old tale wrung tears from the audience.