'Shrank' definitions:
Definition of 'Shrank'
From: GCIDE
- Shrink \Shrink\, v. i. [imp. Shrankor Shrunkp. p. Shrunk or Shrunken, but the latter is now seldom used except as a participial adjective; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrinking.] [OE. shrinken, schrinken, AS. scrincan; akin to OD. schrincken, and probably to Sw. skrynka a wrinkle, skrynkla to wrinkle, to rumple, and E. shrimp, n. & v., scrimp. CF. Shrimp.]
- 1. To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted. [1913 Webster]
- And on a broken reed he still did stay His feeble steps, which shrunk when hard thereon he lay. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
- Against this fire do I shrink up. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- And shrink like parchment in consuming fire. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- All the boards did shrink. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress. [1913 Webster]
- What happier natures shrink at with affright, The hard inhabitant contends is right. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task. --Jowett (Thucyd.) [1913 Webster]
- 3. To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake. [R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]