English Explanatory Dictionary

torment

English dictionary entry

Meanings

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

Pronunciation

/ˈtɔː(ɹ)mɛnt/ /ˈtɔː(ɹ)mənt/ en-us-torment.ogg /tɔː(ɹ)ˈmɛnt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-torment (verb).wav

Word forms

torment torments tormenting tormented

Etymology

From Middle English torment, from Old French torment, from Latin tormentum (“something operated by twisting”), from torquere (“to twist”).

Synonyms

misery pain wark anguish rend difficulty distress grief hardship smart torment torture trouble afflict excruciate ache aggrieve agonize dere hurt irritate pang pine rack throe wring plague atray cag engrieve grame harass harrow harry vex

Related words

torture

Derived words

tormentful tormentous tormentor
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