Torment
Pronunciation
- noun UK IPA: /ˈtÉ”ËmÉ›nt/
- verb UK IPA: /tÉ”ËˈmÉ›nt/
Origin
From Old French torment, from Latin tormentum ("something operated by twisting"), from torquere ("to twist").
Full definition of torment
Noun
torment
(plural torments)- (obsolete) A catapult or other kind of war-engine.
- Torture, originally as inflicted by an instrument of torture.
- Any extreme pain, anguish or misery, either physical or mental.He was bitter from the torments of the divorce system.
- Bible, Matthew iv. 24They brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Verb
- (transitive) To cause severe suffering to (stronger than to vex but weaker than to torture.)The child tormented the flies by pulling their wings off.
- 2013, Phil McNulty, "Man City 4-1 Man Utd", BBC Sport, 22 September 2013:Moyes, who never won a derby at Liverpool in 11 years as Everton manager, did not find the Etihad any more forgiving as City picked United apart in midfield, where Toure looked in a different class to United's £27.5m new boy Marouane Fellaini, and in defence as Aguero tormented Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.