Past tense of wrench; to forcefully pull or twist something with a sudden, violent motion, often causing pain or damage.
From Old English 'wrencan' meaning 'to twist' or 'to pull,' related to Old Norse and Germanic roots. The violent connotation has remained consistent throughout the word's 1,500-year history.
When you wrench something, you're not just pulling—the word specifically describes a twisting motion that creates mechanical disadvantage, which is why a 'monkey wrench' is so effective at loosening stubborn bolts despite being relatively small.
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