I. ˈtȯr-chər noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Old French, from Late Latin tortura, from Latin tortus, past participle of torquēre to twist; probably akin to Old High German drāhsil turner, Greek atraktos spindle
Date: 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
II. transitive verb
( tor·tured ; tor·tur·ing ˈtȯrch-riŋ, ˈtȯr-chə-)
Date: 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
Synonyms: see afflict
• tor·tur·er ˈtȯr-chər-ər noun