Wind v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wound (rarely Winded); p. pr. & vb. n. Winding.]
1. To turn completely, or with repeated turns; especially, to turn about something fixed; to cause to form convolutions about anything; to coil; to twine; to twist; to wreathe; as, to wind thread on a spool or into a ball.
Whether to wind
The woodbine round this arbor. --Milton.
2. To entwist; to infold; to encircle.
Sleep, and I will wind thee in arms. --Shak.
3. To have complete control over; to turn and bend at one's pleasure; to vary or alter or will; to regulate; to govern. “To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus.”
In his terms so he would him wind. --Chaucer.
Gifts blind the wise, and bribes do please
And wind all other witnesses. --Herrick.
Were our legislature vested in the prince, he might wind and turn our constitution at his pleasure. --Addison.
4. To introduce by insinuation; to insinuate.
You have contrived . . . to wind
Yourself into a power tyrannical. --Shak.
Little arts and dexterities they have to wind in such things into discourse. --Gov. of Tongue.
5. To cover or surround with something coiled about; as, to wind a rope with twine.
To wind off, to unwind; to uncoil.
To wind out, to extricate. [Obs.] --Clarendon.
To wind up. (a) To coil into a ball or small compass, as a skein of thread; to coil completely. (b) To bring to a conclusion or settlement; as, to wind up one's affairs; to wind up an argument. (c) To put in a state of renewed or continued motion, as a clock, a watch, etc., by winding the spring, or that which carries the weight; hence, to prepare for continued movement or action; to put in order anew. “Fate seemed to wind him up for fourscore years.” --Dryden. “Thus they wound up his temper to a pitch.” --Atterbury. (d) To tighten (the strings) of a musical instrument, so as to tune it. “Wind up the slackened strings of thy lute.” --Waller.