Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SCREW, v.t.

1. To turn or apply a screw to; to press, fasten or make firm by a screw; as, to screw a lock on a door; to screw a press.
2. To force; to squeeze; to press.
3. To oppress by exactions. Landlords sometimes screw and rack their tenants without mercy.
4. To deform by contortions; to distort. He screw'd his face into a harden'd smile. – Dryden. To screw out, to press out; to extort. To screw up, to force; to bring by violent pressure; as, to screw up the pins of power too high. – Howell. To screw in, to force in by turning or twisting.