Þrǽstan

According to the Old English Dictionary:

þrǽstan

p. te. I. to twist, writhe, roll about :-- Ðæt hors on misenlíce dǽlas hit wond and ðrǽste cum diversas in partes se torqueret, Bd. 3, 9; S. 533, 36. Hé misenlícum styrenessum ongan his limu ðrǽstandiversis motibus coepit membra torquere, 3, 11; S. 536, 15. II. to torture, torment, harass, plague, afflict :-- Ǽnne of ðám mannum ðe hí on ðam fýre bærndon anð ðrǽston unum de eis quos in ignibus torrebant, 3, 19; S. 548, 48. Ðætte Bryttas hié sylfe ðrǽston (contriverint) on ingefeohtum, 1, 22; S. 485, 11. Mé þræscende (þrǽstende?), Homl. Skt. ii. 23 b, 554. Hé grimme sáre ongan ðrǽsted beón (torqueri), Bd. 5, 13; S. 632, 59. Ða unríman mænigeo ðrǽste wǽron innumerabilis multitudo torqueretur, 5, 12; S. 628, 4. Missenlícum cwealmnyssum ðréste diversibus cruciatibus torti, 1, 7; S. 479, 13. III. to press, constrain :-- Tó nirwienne l tó þrǽstenne artandum, constringendum, Hpt. Gl. 480, 32. [Is] þrǽst compellitur, coartatur, 469, 20. [In later English the word seems mostly used intransitively, to press in, on, out :-- Monie þurles, þer þet water þrest in, A. R. 314, 54. Þreaste smoke ut, Marh. 9, 6. He þraste to þan fihte, Laym. 27644. Moni þusenden þrasten ut of telden, 26318. Heo þresten in uppon me irruerunt super me, A. R. 220, 31. Mine cnihtes scullen þræsten (preaste, 2nd MS.) biforen me, Laym. 23373. He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste, Chauc. Kn. T. 1754.]

Related words: á-, for-, ge-þrǽstan. þræstan