Read this sentence from Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address:

It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged.

What does the word wringing mean as used in this sentence? (4 points)


Painfully extracting

Simply getting

Strongly twisting

Thoughtfully suggesting

*I think it is C based on the definitions I have read, does anyone agree?

I think A is better.

Yeah I get what you mean

I think A is better too

To determine the meaning of the word "wringing" in this sentence, we can analyze the context and consider its various definitions. In this case, "wringing" is used metaphorically and not quite in its literal sense.

Let's break down the sentence first: "It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces."

From the context, we can infer that the phrase "wringing their bread" refers to a method of obtaining sustenance or livelihood by using the labor or suffering of others.

Now, let's consider the provided answer choices:

A) Painfully extracting
B) Simply getting
C) Strongly twisting
D) Thoughtfully suggesting

Of these options, "wringing" is most closely associated with option A, "painfully extracting." This meaning aligns with the metaphorical usage in the sentence, where it implies that men are obtaining their bread through the toil and suffering of others.

So, in this case, the correct answer would indeed be A) Painfully extracting.