torturous

torturous
—torturously, adv.
/tawr"cheuhr euhs/, adj.
pertaining to, involving, or causing torture or suffering.
[1490-1500; < AF; OF tortureus. See TORTURE, -OUS]
Usage. TORTUROUS refers specifically to what involves or causes pain or suffering: prisoners working in the torturous heat; torturous memories of past injustice. Some speakers and writers use TORTUROUS for TORTUOUS, especially in the senses "twisting, winding" and "convoluted": a torturous road; torturous descriptions. Others, however, keep the two adjectives (and their corresponding adverbs) separate in all senses: a tortuous (twisting) road; tortuous (convoluted) descriptions; torturous (painful) treatments.

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  • Torturous — Tor tur*ous (t[^o]r t[ u]r*[u^]s), a. Involving, or pertaining to, torture. [R.] The torturous crucifixion. I. Disraeli. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • torturous — (adj.) late 15c., from Anglo Fr. torturous, from O.Fr. tortureus, from L. tortura (see TORTURE (Cf. torture)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • torturous — index insufferable, painful Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • torturous — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ characterized by pain or suffering. DERIVATIVES torturously adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • torturous — tor•tur•ous [[t]ˈtɔr tʃər əs[/t]] adj. use pertaining to, involving, or causing torture or suffering • Etymology: 1490–1500; < AF; OF tortureus. See torture, ous tor′tur•ous•ly, adv. usage: torturous refers specifically to what involves or… …   From formal English to slang

  • torturous — adjective Date: 15th century 1. a. causing torture < torturous inquisitions > b. very unpleasant or painful < a torturous day > < torturous self doubts > 2. painfully difficult or slow < the torturous course of the negotiations > • …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • torturous — tortuous, torturous Both words are derived from Latin torquēre meaning ‘to twist’, but their literal meanings are different. The (less common) word torturous is a derivative of the English word torture, whereas tortuous has no such intermediary… …   Modern English usage

  • torturous — [[t]tɔ͟ː(r)tʃərəs[/t]] ADJ GRADED Something that is torturous is extremely painful and causes great suffering. His breathing was torturous... This is a torturous, agonizing way to kill someone …   English dictionary

  • torturous — tor|tur|ous [ tɔrtʃərəs ] adjective 1. ) causing extreme physical pain: torturous beatings 2. ) causing a mentally or physically uncomfortable feeling: torturous memories …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • torturous — UK [ˈtɔː(r)tʃərəs] / US [ˈtɔrtʃərəs] adjective 1) causing extreme physical pain torturous beatings 2) causing a mentally or physically uncomfortable feeling torturous memories …   English dictionary

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