Literary notes about WREST (AI summary)
In literature, “wrest” is often employed to convey a forceful, determined act of seizing something—whether physical or abstract. Writers use it to depict moments of abrupt, sometimes violent, intervention: a character might literally wrest an object from another’s grasp [1] or figuratively wrest control or authority away from an opponent [2]. The term captures both the physical struggle, as when a weapon is snatched away [3], and the metaphorical contest to reclaim power, treasure, or even a cherished ideal [4][5]. Its varied application enriches narratives by emphasizing themes of resistance, conflict, and the relentless human pursuit to claim what is urgently held from one’s reach [6][7].
- they also stole an ax from us, but scarcely had it in their possession before Thompson detected them and wrest it from them.
— from The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1804-1806 by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis - Among the passengers one man, envious of the young officer, did all in his power to wrest from him the glory of success.
— from All About Coffee by William H. Ukers - [Trying to wrest the revolver from him] Give it to me; give it to me, I tell you!
— from Uncle Vanya: Scenes from Country Life in Four Acts by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov - I think you would have me say, saving your reverence, ‘a husband:’ an bad thinking do not wrest true speaking, I’ll offend nobody.
— from Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare - —The Dutch also made repeated efforts to wrest from Portugal her settlement and trade in China.
— from A History of the Philippines by David P. Barrows - King Edward departed out of Flanders in the year 1471, when the Duke of Burgundy went to wrest Amiens and St. Quentin back from the king.
— from Charles the Bold, Last Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477 by Ruth Putnam - Thereafter the feathered orphans began fighting one another, each one trying to wrest the crown from the others.
— from Filipino Popular Tales
