Word: wrangle Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from Middle English wranglen, wrangle (“to contend with (someone) in a test of strength; (figuratively) to make misleading arguments to entrap”); from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word related to Middle Dutch wrangen and Middle Low German wrangen (“to cause an uproar; to struggle, wrestle”) (whence Low German wrangeln (“to wrangle”)), related to Middle Dutch wringen (“to twist; to wrest; to wring; to struggle, wrestle”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *wringaną (“to squeeze; to twist; to wring”). The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates * Danish vringle (“to twist, entangle”) * German rangeln (“to wrestle”) Pronunciation: /ˈɹæŋɡəl/, [ˈɹʷæŋɡəl] ~ [ˈɹʷæŋɡl̩], /ˈɹeɪ̯ŋɡəl/, [ˈɹʷeɪ̯ŋɡəl] ~ [ˈɹʷeɪ̯ŋɡl̩], /ˈɹɛ̃ŋɡəl/ 1. To convince or influence (someone) by arguing or contending. Labels: transitive 2. Followed by out of: to elicit (something) from a person by arguing or bargaining. Labels: transitive Example: [W]e vvrangled out of the King ten quarters of Corne for a copper Kettel, the vvhich the Preſident preceiving him much to affect, valued it at a much greater rate; […] 3. To speak or write (something) in an argumentative or contentious manner. Labels: archaic, rare, transitive Example: [H]e has taken in, Sir, the vvhole ſubject,— […] begging, borrovving, and ſtealing, as he vvent along, all that had been vvrote or vvrangled thereupon in the ſchools and porticos of the learned; […] 4. To spend (time) arguing or quarrelling. Labels: archaic, rare, transitive 5. To herd (horses or other livestock). Labels: US, Western, transitive Example: When she [Debbie Reynolds as Lucretia Rogers] tries to wrangle a calf, she ends up flat on her face in the barnyard muck. 6. To herd (horses or other livestock). Labels: US, Western, broadly, humorous, transitive Example: Wrangling a chaotic group of five-year-olds is unnerving enough without the added stress of a famous NHLer [Brian Gionta] in the room helping lace his son’s skates. 7. To herd (horses or other livestock). Labels: US, Western, figuratively, transitive 8. Followed by out of: to compel or drive (someone or something) away through arguing. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: To VVrangle the Devil, out of the Country, vvill be truly a Nevv Experiment! Alas, vve are not Avvare of the Devil, if vve do not think, that he aims at Enflaming us one againſt another; & ſhall vve ſuffer our ſelves to be Devil-Ridden? or, by any Vnadviſableneſs, contribute unto the VVidening of our Breaches? 9. Followed by out: to put forward arguments on (a case, a matter disagreed upon, etc.). Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: VVell then, if I make 'hem not vvrangle out this caſe, to his no comfort, let me be thought a Iack Davv, or La-Foole, or any thing vvorſe. 10. To cause (oneself) grief through arguing or quarrelling. Labels: obsolete, reflexive, transitive Example: When we have wrangled ourselves as long as our wits and strengths will serve us, the honest, downright sober English Protestant will be found, in the end, the man in the safest way, and by the surest line: […] 11. To quarrel angrily and noisily; to bicker. Labels: also, figuratively, intransitive Example: [A]fter his old manner, he wrangleth and quarrelleth. Example: Mens natures vvrangle with inferior things, / Tho great ones are the obiect, […] 12. To make harsh noises as if quarrelling. Labels: intransitive Example: A suitable attire the horses shew; / Their golden bits keep wrangling as they go; […] Example: Distant and near and low and loud the bells, / Dominican, Benedictine, and Franciscan, / Jangle and wrangle in their airy towers, / Discordant as the brotherhoods themselves / In their dim cloisters. 13. To argue, to debate; also (dated), to debate or discuss publicly, especially about a thesis at a university. Labels: also, figuratively, intransitive Example: Forſoothe, that vvhen he had concluded that vve muſt no liue by examples, but by lavves, he might make ſimple ſoules beleaue, that they ought not follovve the exãples of their holy forefathers, in bleſsing them ſelues, but to haue the name of the lavve in their mouthes and do nothing leſſe thã that the lavve biddeth them to doe. And to bring that to paſſe ſee hovve he vvrangleth. Example: VVher the Philoſophers as they think ſcorne to delight, ſo muſt they be content little to mooue; ſauing vvrangling vvhether Virtue be the chiefe or the onely good; […]