Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Writhe \Writhe\, v. i.
   To twist or contort the body; to be distorted; as, to writhe
   with agony. Also used figuratively.

         After every attempt, he felt that he had failed, and
         writhed with shame and vexation.         --Macaulay.

Writhe \Writhe\, v. t. [imp. {Writhed}; p. p. {Writhed}, Obs. or
   Poetic {Writhen}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Writhing}.] [OE. writhen,
   AS. wr[=i]?an to twist; akin to OHG. r[=i]dan, Icel. r[=i]?a,
   Sw. vrida, Dan. vride. Cf. {Wreathe}, {Wrest}, {Wroth}.]
   1. To twist; to turn; now, usually, to twist or turn so as to
      distort; to wring. ``With writhing [turning] of a pin.''
      --Chaucer.

            Then Satan first knew pain, And writhed him to and
            fro.                                  --Milton.

            Her mouth she writhed, her forehead taught to frown.
                                                  --Dryden.

            His battle-writhen arms, and mighty hands.
                                                  --Tennyson.

   2. To wrest; to distort; to pervert.

            The reason which he yieldeth showeth the least part
            of his meaning to be that whereunto his words are
            writhed.                              --Hooker.

   3. To extort; to wring; to wrest. [R.]

Source : WordNet®

writhe
     v : to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when
         struggling); "The prisoner writhed in discomfort"; "The
         child tried to wriggle free from his aunt's embrace"
         [syn: {wrestle}, {wriggle}, {worm}, {squirm}, {twist}]