twine
see also: Twine
Pronunciation Etymology 1

From Middle English twyn, twyne, twin, from Old English twīn, from Proto-West Germanic *twiʀn, from Proto-Indo-European *dwisnós, from *dwóh₁ ("two").

Noun

twine

  1. A twist; a convolution.
    • 1629, John Milton, “On the Morning of Christs Nativity”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC ↗, page 11 ↗:
      Not Typhon huge ending in ſnaky twine:
  2. A strong thread composed of two or three smaller threads or strands twisted together, and used for various purposes, as for binding small parcels, making nets, and the like; a small cord or string.
  3. The act of twining or winding round.
    • 1708, [John Philips], “Book I”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC ↗, page 16 ↗:
      The Colewort's rankness, but with amorous twine / Clasps the tall Elm
  4. Intimate and suggestive dance gyrations.
    • 1965, Wilson Pickett, Don't Fight It (blues song), BMI Music.
      The way you jerk, the way you do the twine / You're too much, baby; I'd like to make you mine [...]
Translations Translations Translations Etymology 2

From Middle English twinen, twynen, from Old English *twīnian, from Proto-Germanic *twiznōną, from Proto-Indo-European *dwisnós, from Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁.

Verb

twine (twines, present participle twining; simple past and past participle twined)

  1. (transitive) To weave together.
  2. (transitive) To wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body.
    • c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene v]:
      Let me twine
      Mine arms about that body […]
    • 1931, Dashiell Hammett, chapter 10, in The Glass Key, New York: Vintage, published 1972, page 199:
      She was twining her fingers together.
  3. (transitive) To wind about; to embrace; to entwine.
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      1712 May, [Alexander Pope], “The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-comical Poem.”, in Miscellaneous Poems and Translations. […], London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC ↗, canto III:
      “Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine,”
      The victor cried, “the glorious prize is mine! […] ”
  4. (intransitive) To mutually twist together; to become mutually involved; to intertwine.
    • 1941, Emily Carr, chapter 1, in Klee Wyck:
      Usually some old crone was squatted on the earth floor, weaving cedar fibre or tatters of old cloth into a mat, her claw-like fingers twining in and out, in and out, among the strands that were fastened to a crude frame of sticks.
  5. (intransitive) To wind; to bend; to make turns; to meander.
    • 1713, Jonathan Swift, Cadenus and Vanessa:
      As rivers, though they bend and twine,
      Still to the sea their course incline:
  6. (intransitive) To ascend in spiral lines about a support; to climb spirally.
    Many plants twine.
  7. (obsolete) To turn round; to revolve.
    • 1598, George Chapman, Hero and Leander:
      dancers twine midst cedar-fragrant glades
  8. (obsolete) To change the direction of.
    • 1600, Torquato Tasso, translated by Edward Fairfax, Jerusalem Delivered, published 1581, Book 20, Stanza 38:
      For where he turned his sword, or twined his steed,
      He slew, or man and beast on earth down laid,
  9. (obsolete) To mingle; to mix.
    • 1646, Richard Crashaw, M. Crashaw’s Answer for Hope, lines 29–30:
      As lumpes of sugar loose themselues, and twine
      Their subtile essence with the soul of wine.
Translations Verb

twine (twines, present participle twining; simple past and past participle twined)

  1. Alternative form of twin

Twine
Proper noun
  1. Surname.



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