Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: wry 'to twist' (14-19 centuries), from Old English wrigian 'to turn'

wry

 adjective
     
wry [only before noun]
a wry expression or wry humour shows that you know a situation is bad, but you also think it is slightly amusing:
'Was it as bad as you expected?' Travis gave a wry smile.
—wryly adverb
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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