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torture

noun
/ˈtoɹt͡ʃɚ/US/ˈtɔːt͡ʃə(ɹ)/UK

Etymology

From Middle English torture, from Old French torture, from Late Latin tortūra (“a twisting, writhing, of bodily pain, a griping colic;” in Medieval Latin “pain inflicted by judicial or ecclesiastical authority as a means of persuasion, torture”), from Latin tortus (whence also tort), past participle of torquēre (“to twist”).

  1. derived from tortus
  2. derived from tortūra — “a twisting, writhing, of bodily pain, a griping colic;” in Medieval Latin “pain inflicted by judicial or ecclesiastical authority as a means of persuasion, torture”
  3. derived from torture
  4. inherited from torture

Definitions

  1. The infliction of severe pain or anguish, especially as an interrogation technique or…

    The infliction of severe pain or anguish, especially as an interrogation technique or punishment; (usually in the plural) a technique, method, or device which is designed to inflict such anguish.

    • People confess to anything under torture.
    • Using large dogs to attack bound, hand-cuffed prisoners is clearly torture.
    • What new tortures await me?

  2. Severe pain or anguish, of mind or body.

  3. An unpleasant sensation or its infliction

    An unpleasant sensation or its infliction: embarrassment, heartache, etc.

    • Every time she says 'goodbye' it is torture!
    • Coventry City midfielder Josh Ruffels described his 11 months out injured as 'absolute torture' after the goalless draw with Derby County Under-21s. (http://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/eleven-months-of-absolute-torture-760652.aspx)
  4. ›+ 1 more definition

    1. To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone), usually with the aim of…

      To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone), usually with the aim of forcing confessions or punishing them.

      • People who torture often have sadistic tendencies.

The neighborhood

Derived

bamboo torture, C&B torture, C & B torture, C and B torture, Chinese water torture, surf torture, torture chamber, torture-meister, torture stake, torture-test, torture test, torture warrant

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at torture. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01torture02infliction03imposition04burden05grievous06pain07torment

A definitional loop anchored at torture. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

7 hops · closes at torture

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA