wright

¹ American  

[rahyt] / raɪt /

noun

1. a worker, especially a constructive worker (used chiefly in combination).

   a wheelwright; a playwright.

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Wright ² American  

[rahyt] / raɪt /

noun

1. Charles, born 1935, U.S. poet.

2. Frances or Fanny, 1795–1852, U.S. abolitionist and social reformer, born in Scotland.

3. Frank Lloyd, 1867–1959, U.S. architect.

4. James, 1927–80, U.S. poet and translator.

5. Joseph Wright of Derby, 1734–97, English painter.

6. Joseph, 1855–1935, English philologist and lexicographer.

7. Mary Kathryn Mickey, born 1935, U.S. golfer.

8. Orville 1871–1948, and his brother Wilbur, 1867–1912, U.S. aeronautical inventors.

9. Richard, 1908–60, U.S. novelist.

10. Russel 1904–76, U.S. industrial designer.

11. Willard Huntington S. S. Van Dine, 1888–1939, U.S. journalist, critic, and author.

12. a male given name.

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Wright ¹ British  

/ raɪt /

noun

1. Frank Lloyd. 1869–1959, US architect, whose designs include the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo (1916), the Guggenheim Museum, New York (1943), and many private houses. His "organic architecture" sought a close relationship between buildings and their natural surroundings

2. Joseph, known as Wright of Derby . 1734–97, British painter, noted for his paintings of industrial and scientific subjects, esp The Orrery (?1765) and The Air Pump (1768)

3. Joseph. 1855–1930, British philologist; editor of The English Dialect Dictionary (1898–1905)

4. Judith ( Arundel ). 1915–2000, Australian poet, critic, and conservationist. Her collections of poetry include The Moving Image (1946), Woman to Man (1949), and A Human Pattern (1990)

5. Richard. 1908–60, US Black novelist and short-story writer, best known for the novel Native Son (1940)

6. Wilbur (1867–1912) and his brother, Orville (1871–1948), US aviation pioneers, who designed and flew the first powered aircraft (1903)

7. William, known as Billy . 1924–94, English footballer: winner of 105 caps

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wright ² British  

/ raɪt /

noun

1. (now chiefly in combination) a person who creates, builds, or repairs something specified

   a playwright

   a shipwright

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Etymology

Origin of wright

before 900; Middle English; Old English wryhta, metathetic variant of wyrhta “worker”; akin to work

Explanation

If you make a living building furniture out of wood, you can call yourself a wright, which is an old fashioned way to say "maker or builder." You're more likely to see the word wright in combination with other words than on its own these days. Some common examples are playwright and wheelwright, or in other words, makers of plays and wheels. The origin of wright is the Old English wryhta, or "someone who works with wood." Originally, a wright was specifically a wood worker, but later it grew to include many different kinds of professions.

Example Sentences

Topics: , , , , colorado capitol building, jared wright, jonathan singer, kurtis lee, Denver Post, John Hickenlooper, Gov. John Hickenlooper, , ,

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2014

Tags: Baseball, david wright, mets, retaliation, terry collins Baseball evokes the image of a father having that catch with his son.

From New York Times • May 24, 2012

Billy Fisher is hardly an angry young menace, but he might be mistaken for a highly comic younger brother of Play wright John Osborne's backward-scowling Jimmy Porter.

From Time Magazine Archive

British Play wright Hopkins makes three serious points and makes them well.

From Time Magazine Archive

Yes, I am really a carpenter," Reuben answered; "at least, I am a mill wright by trade.

From A Final Reckoning A Tale of Bush Life in Australia by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

Related Words

• artisan