tor|ment

tor|ment
tor|ment «verb. tr MEHNT; noun. TR mehnt», verb, noun.
–v.t.
1. to cause very great pain to: »

Severe headaches tormented him. Like a hedgehog rolled up the wrong way Tormenting himself with his prickles (Thomas Hood).

2. to worry or annoy very much: »

She torments everyone with silly questions.

SYNONYM(S): tease, plague, harrass.
3. = torture. (Cf. ↑torture)
╂[Middle English turmenten < Old French tormenter, and turmenter < torment; sthe noun]
–n.
1. a cause of very great pain: »

A bad burn can be a torment. Instruments of torture were torments.

2. very great pain; agony; torture: »

years Dark with torment and with tears (Emily Brontë). He suffered torments from his aching teeth.

 SYNONYM(S): anguish, misery, distress.
3. a cause of great worry or annoyance.
╂[Middle English turment torture, pain; torsion machine < Old French torment, learned borrowing from Latin tormentum twisted sling, rack, related to torquēre to twist]
Synonym Study transitive verb. 1 Torment, torture mean to cause physical or mental pain. Torment implies repeated punishment or incessant harassment: »

He is tormented by a racking cough.

Torture implies the infliction of acute and protracted suffering: »

The civilized nations do not believe in torturing prisoners.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • self-tor|ment — «SEHLF TR mehnt», noun. the action of tormenting oneself …   Useful english dictionary

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  • ment — abate·ment; al·i·ment; ap·prove·ment; aug·ment; ce·ment; com·ment; com·part·ment; com·ple·ment; com·pli·ment; con·sign·ment; de·ment; de·part·ment; dis·place·ment; doc·u·ment; el·e·ment; en·ti·tle·ment; en·vi·ron·ment; es·tab·lish·ment;… …   English syllables

  • aug|men´tor — aug|ment «verb. g MEHNT; noun. G mehnt», verb, noun. –v.t. 1. to make greater in size, number, amount, or degree; enlarge: »The king augmented his power by taking over rights that had belonged to the nobles. SYNONYM(S): amplify, swell. See syn.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • aug|ment´er — aug|ment «verb. g MEHNT; noun. G mehnt», verb, noun. –v.t. 1. to make greater in size, number, amount, or degree; enlarge: »The king augmented his power by taking over rights that had belonged to the nobles. SYNONYM(S): amplify, swell. See syn.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • aug|ment´a|ble — aug|ment «verb. g MEHNT; noun. G mehnt», verb, noun. –v.t. 1. to make greater in size, number, amount, or degree; enlarge: »The king augmented his power by taking over rights that had belonged to the nobles. SYNONYM(S): amplify, swell. See syn.… …   Useful english dictionary

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