n. & v.
--n.
1. the infliction of severe bodily pain esp. as a punishment or a means of persuasion.
2 severe physical or mental suffering (the torture of defeat).
--v.tr.
1. subject to torture (tortured by guilt).
2 force out of a natural position or state; deform; pervert.
Derivatives:
torturable adj. torturer n. torturous adj. torturously adv.
Etymology: F f. LL tortura twisting (as TORT)