torment

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Pronunciation 1.2.2 Synonyms 1.2.3 Translations 1.3 Verb 1.3.1 Pronunciation 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Old French tourment, from Latin tormentum (“‘something operated by twisting’”), from torquere (“‘to twist’”).

[edit] Noun

torment (plural torments)

1. (obsolete) A catapult or other kind of war-engine.
2. Torture, originally as inflicted by an instrument of torture.
3. Any extreme pain, anguish or misery, either physical or mental.

   He was bitter from the torments of the insipid divorce system.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈtɔːmɛnt/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:pain

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to torment (third-person singular simple present torments, present participle tormenting, simple past and past participle tormented)

1. (transitive) To cause severe suffering to (stronger than to vex but weaker than to torture.)

   The child tormented the flies by pulling their wings off.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /tɔːˈmɛnt/

[edit] Derived terms

• tormentor

[edit] Translations