torturous

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
>
torturously adverb

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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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 — 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… …   Universalium

  • 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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