ˈtȯrch(ə)rəs, -ȯ(ə)ch- adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French tortureux, from torture + -eux -ous
1. : causing, marked by, or accompanied by torture : cruelly painful
the torturous , far from finished battle — Time
fell into torturous sleep — C.O.Gorham
2.
[alteration of tortuous ]
: distorted , tortuous , twisting
the dark-strained after rafter, that seasoned crossarm of torturous timber — Ralph Ellison