torment
pronunciation
How to pronounce torment in British English:
UK [ˈtɔːment , tɔːˈment]
How to pronounce torment in American English:
US [ˈtɔːrment , tɔːrˈment]
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- Noun:
- unbearable physical pain
- extreme mental distress
- intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain
- a feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented
- a severe affliction
- the act of harassing someone
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- Verb:
- torment emotionally or mentally
- treat cruelly
- subject to torture
Word Origin
- torment
- torment: [13] The notion underlying torment is of an instrument of torture worked by ‘twisting’. The word was borrowed from Latin tormentum ‘instrument of torture’, hence ‘torture, great suffering’. This was a contraction of an earlier *torquementum, a derivative of torquēre ‘twist’, which has also given English contort [15], extort [16], retort [16], torch, torque [19], torsion [15], tort [14], tortuous [15], and torture [16] (literally ‘twisting’).=> contort, extort, retort, thwart, torch, torque, torsion, tort, torture
- torment (n.)
- c. 1300, "the inflicting of torture," also "state of great suffering, pain, distress," from Old French torment "torture, pain, anguish, suffering distress" (11c., Modern French tourment), from Latin tormentum "twisted cord, sling; clothes-press; instrument for hurling stones," also "instrument of torture, a rack," figuratively "anguish, pain, torment," from torquere "to twist" (see torque (n.)).
- torment (v.)
- c. 1300, "inflict torture on, distress," from Old French tormenter "torture, torment, oppress, agitate" (12c.), from Medieval Latin tormentare "to torment, to twist," from Latin tormentum (see torment (n.)). Related: Tormented; tormenting.
Example
- 1. But I have spent the last 15 years in torment !
- 2. Even without going bankrupt , countries can torment their creditors .
- 3. This is because the torment has no sequel .
- 4. They torment , physically or psychologically , because it feels good to exert their power and to witness the pain and suffering it produces .
- 5. According to another local legend , god sent a swarm of mosquitos to torment nimrod , and a mosquito flew up nimrod 's nose and started chewing on his brain .