Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Torment?

\Tor"ment\, n. [OF. torment, F. tourment, fr. L. tormentum an engine for hurling missiles, an instrument of torture, a rack, torture, fr. torquere to turn, to twist, hurl. See {Turture}.] 1. (Mil. Antiq.) An engine for casting stones. [Obs.] --Sir T. Elyot. 2. Extreme pain; anguish; torture; the utmost degree of misery, either of body or mind. --Chaucer. The more I see Pleasures about me, so much more I feel Torment within me. --Milton. 3. That which gives pain, vexation, or misery. They brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments. --Matt. iv. 24.
\Tor*ment"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {tormented}; p. pr. & vb. n. {tormenting}.] [OF. tormenter, F. tourmenter.] 1. To put to extreme pain or anguish; to inflict excruciating misery upon, either of body or mind; to torture. `` Art thou come hither to torment us before our time? '' --Matt. viii. 29. 2. To pain; to distress; to afflict. Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. --Matt. viii. 6. 3. To tease; to vex; to harass; as, to be tormented with importunities, or with petty annoyances. [Colloq.] 4. To put into great agitation. [R.] ``[They], soaring on main wing, tormented all the air.'' --Milton.