verb
wrest
REST/rˈɛst/
To take something away by force or determined effort.
The woman wrests the wooden staff from the resisting man's grip.
Etymology
From wræstan, “to twist or wrench,” wrest developed the sense of pulling something loose by force. That physical action extended to forcibly taking things such as power or authority.
In context
hope to wrest this old man’s living power from his own living hands? Only a fool would try it. Say he were pinioned even; knotted all over with ropes and hawsers;
More examples
- The workers wrest concessions from management after weeks of negotiations.
- Rival factions try to wrest control of the city.
- He wrested the knife from the attacker's hand.
Forms
wrest · wrests · wrested · wresting