(1):

(v. t.) To extort; to wring; to wrest.

(2):

(v. t.) To twist; to turn; now, usually, to twist or turn so as to distort; to wring.

(3):

(v. t.) To wrest; to distort; to pervert.

(4):

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