English word torture comes from Proto-Indo-European *terkʷ-
Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
---|---|---|
*terkʷ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | to turn |
torqueo | Latin (lat) | I hurl violently; I spin, whirl.. I torment, torture.. I twist or bend awry, distort. I twist, wind. |
torta | Latin (lat) | |
torta panis | Latin (lat) | |
tortura | Late Latin (LL) | |
torture | Old French (842-ca. 1400) (fro) | |
torture | English (en) | (transitive) To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone). (chiefly, literary) The "suffering of the heart" imposed by one on another, as in personal relationships.. (colloquial) (often as "absolute torture") stage fright, severe embarrassment.. Intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony. |