torturous, a.
(ˈtɔːtjʊərəs)
Also 5, 7 torterous.
[a. AF. torturous = OF. tortureus, -eux, f. L. tortūra torture: see -ous.]
Full of, involving, or causing torture; tormenting, excruciating; in first quot., given to inflicting torture.
| c 1495 Epitaffe, etc. in Skelton's Wks. (1843) II. 392 O turmentoure, traytoure, torterous tyraunte. 1600 Abp. Abbot Exp. Jonah 199 Dying he must live and living he must dy in a torturous execution. 1618 M. Baret Horsemanship, Cures, They follow the torterous inventions of hard snaffles. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. ii. ii. ii. (1737) II. 146 The assuaging of the most torturous Pain. 1871 R. Ellis Catullus lxv. 1 Outworn with sorrow, with hours of torturous anguish. |
b. fig. Involving perversion or violent dislocation (of words, etc.): cf. torture n. 3, v. 3 b.
| 1841 D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1859) II. 27 Their torturous arrangement of words without rhythm or cadence. 1890 Standard 23 Aug. 3/2 Tortuous, as well as torturous, renderings of Psalms, Te Deums, Canticles, and responses. |
Hence ˈtorturously adv., very painfully.
| 1857 W. Arnot Let. in Mrs. A. Fleming Life vi. (1877) 320 They make the carriages torturously hard. c 1873 J. Addis Eliz. Echoes (1879) 77 A fate Through all thy Future torturously throbbing. |