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Entwine vs Entangle - What's the difference?

entwine | entangle |

As verbs the difference between entwine and entangle

is that entwine is to twist or twine around something (or one another) while entangle is to tangle; to twist or interweave in such a manner as not to be easily separated; to make confused and intricate; as, to entangle yarn or the hair.

entwine

English

Alternative forms

* (l)

Verb

(entwin)
  • To twist or twine around something (or one another).
  • * Shelley
    • entwined in duskier wreaths her braided locks
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-14, author= Sam Leith
    • , volume=189, issue=1, page=37, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Where the profound meets the profane , passage=Swearing doesn't just mean what we now understand by "dirty words". It is entwined , in social and linguistic history, with the other sort of swearing: vows and oaths.}}

    Usage notes

    Particularly used in attributive form entwined. Often used interchangeably with intertwine, with minor usage distinctions. In symmetric sense of two things twining around each other, such as the branches of two trees, narrower (term) may be preferred, but these are not strictly distinguished. In asymmetric sense of one thing twined in or around another – rather than mutually – such as a vine twined around a tree (but tree not twined around the vine), entwined is preferred.

    Synonyms

    * (twine around one another) (l)

    entangle

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To tangle; to twist or interweave in such a manner as not to be easily separated; to make confused and intricate; as, to entangle yarn or the hair.
  • To involve in such complications as to render extrication difficult; hence, metaphorically, to ensnare; to perplex; to bewilder; to puzzle; as, to entangle the feet in a net, or in briers.
  • To involve in difficulties or embarrassments; to embarrass, puzzle, or distract by adverse or perplexing circumstances, interests, demands, etc.; to hamper; to bewilder.

    • Antonyms

    * disentangle

    Related terms

    * entanglement * entangler * entangling

    References

    * *