wrestle
wres·tle / ˈresəl/ • v. [intr.] take part in a fight, either as a sport or in earnest, that involves grappling with one's opponent and trying to throw or force them to the ground: as the policeman wrestled with the gunman a shot rang out. ∎ [tr.] force (someone) into a particular position or place by fighting in such a way: the security guards wrestled them to the ground. ∎ fig. struggle with a difficulty or problem: for over a year David wrestled with a guilty conscience. ∎ [tr.] move or manipulate (something) in a specified way with difficulty and some physical effort: she wrestled the keys out of the ignition.• n. [in sing.] a wrestling bout or contest: a wrestle to the death. ∎ a hard struggle: a lifelong wrestle with depression.DERIVATIVES: wres·tler / ˈres(ə)lər/ n.ORIGIN: Old English, frequentative of wrǣstan ‘wrest.’
