[tor.ture] n [F, fr. LL tortura, fr. L tortus, pp. of torquere to twist; prob. akin to OHG drahsil turner, Gk atraktos spindle] (1540) 1 a: anguish of body or mind: agony b: something that causes agony or pain
2: the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure
3: distortion or overrefinement of a meaning or an argument: straining
[2]torture vt tor.tured ; tor.tur.ing (1588) 1: to cause intense suffering to: torment
2: to punish or coerce by inflicting excruciating pain
3: to twist or wrench out of shape: distort, warp syn see afflict -- tor.tur.er n