βασανίζω

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Greek

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Etymology

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From Ancient Greek βασανίζω (basanízō, to examine, to investigate, put to the test),[1] from βάσανος (básanos, touchstone) +‎ -ίζω (-ízō, verbal suffix), literally to test with touchstone.[2] The modern sense of "torture" developed from the association of investigations and inquisitions of prisoners with physical tortures.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /vasaˈnizo/
  • Hyphenation: βα‧σα‧νί‧ζω

Verb

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βασανίζω (vasanízo) (past βασάνισα, passive βασανίζομαι)

  1. (transitive) to torture (intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on)
    Βασάνισαν τον αιχμάλωτο για να ομολογήσει.
    Vasánisan ton aichmáloto gia na omologísei.
    They tortured the prisoner so that he would confess.
  2. (transitive, figuratively) to torture, torment, rack, be killing (cause severe suffering to)
    Αυτό το αγόρι βασανίζει τους καημένους τους γονείς του.
    Aftó to agóri vasanízei tous kaïménous tous goneís tou.
    This boy is torturing his poor parents.
    Πρέπει να δω τον οδοντίατρο, με βασανίζει αυτό το δόντι.
    Prépei na do ton odontíatro, me vasanízei aftó to dónti.
    I have to see the dentist, this tooth is killing me.
  3. (transitive, figuratively) to torment, rack (cause mental suffering to)
    Μήνες τώρα με βασανίζουν οι τύψεις.
    Mínes tóra me vasanízoun oi týpseis.
    For months now, I've been tormented with guilt.
  4. (transitive, rare, formal) to probe, pore over, investigate (examine something carefully and attentively)
    Πρέπει να βασανίσω τα στοιχεία προτού καταλήξω σε απόφαση.
    Prépei na vasaníso ta stoicheía protoú katalíxo se apófasi.
    I have to pore over the facts before I come to a decision.

Conjugation

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Synonyms

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Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ βασανίζω, in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], Triantafyllidis Foundation, 1998 at the Centre for the Greek language
  2. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “βάσανος (> DER > βασανίζω)”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 203