Wry | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Wrȳ, a.

adjective

(rī), a. [Cf. Goth. vraiqvs, oblique, curved, Dan. vrie, vride, to bend, Sw. vrida, Eng. writhe and wreathe.]

Sense 1. Turned to one side; twisted; distorted; as, a wry neck; a wry mouth.

Sense 2. Hence, deviating from the right direction; as, wry words.

Not according to the wry rigor of our neighbors, who never take up an old idea without some extravagance in its application. Laudor.

Sense 3. Wrested; perverted. [Rare.]

He… puts a wry sense upon Protestant authors. Atterbury.

Wry face, a distortion of the countenance indicating impatience or discomfort; a grimace.

Wrȳ, v. i.

verbintransitive

(rī), v. i. To deviate from the right way; to go away or astray. [Obs.] *Must murder wives much better than themselves For wrying but a little.* Shak.

Wrȳ, v. t.

verbtransitive

(rī), v. t. To distort; to wrest; to vex; to worry. [Obs.] B. Jonson.