excruciate
pronunciation
How to pronounce excruciate in British English:
UK [ɪks'kru:ʃɪˌeɪt]
How to pronounce excruciate in American English:
US [ɪkˈskruʃiˌet]
-
- Verb:
- torment emotionally or mentally
- subject to torture
Word Origin
- excruciate (v.)
- 1560s, from Latin excruciatus, past participle of excruciare "to torture, torment, rack, plague;" figuratively "to afflict, harass, vex, torment," from ex- "out, thoroughly" (see ex-) + cruciare "cause pain or anguish to," literally "crucify," from crux (genitive crucis) "a cross" (see cross (n.)).