wren

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun English architect who designed more than fifty London churches (1632-1723)
  2. noun any of several small active brown birds of the northern hemisphere with short upright tails; they feed on insects

Etymology

From Middle English wrenne, wranne, from Old English wrenna, wrænna, werna, wærna, wrenne (“wren”), from Proto-West Germanic *wrandijō, from Proto-Germanic *wrandijô (“wren”). Cognate with Old Saxon wrendilo (“wren”), Old High German rento, rentilo (“wren”), Danish rindel (“wren”), Icelandic rindill (“wren”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

Sir Christopher Wren

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