contortionistn.
/kənˈtɔːʃn̩ɪst/, /kənˈtɔːʃənɪst/, U.S. /kənˈtɔrʃənəst/ One who professes and practises contortion.
a. A gymnast or performer who throws his body into contorted postures.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > acrobatic performance > [noun] > acrobat > contortionist
posture-master1691
posture-maker1711
posture man1711
posture girl?1757
contortionist1859
distortionist1864
kinker1926
1859 K. Cornwallis Panorama New World I. 323 Cremorne Gardens.—Wanted, male and female Equestrians, Tumblers..Acrobatic Performers, Contortionists.
1885 Manch. Examiner 11 Feb. 5/3 To their extraordinary ability as contortionists they add some musical talent.
b. An artist whose work exhibits contortions.
ΚΠ
1889 Sir F. Leighton in Times 11 Dec. 7/4 He is the most turgid contortionist whose work it has been my fortune to see.
c. One who contorts or twists the sense of words or ideas.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > misleading argument, sophistry > excessive subtlety, hair-splitting > frivolous, captious objection > [noun] > practitioner of
hafter1519
brabbler1548
caviller1574
chicaneer1653
chicaner1673
contortionist1887
1887 Spectator 9 Apr. 491/2 Some confirmed jokers,—verbal contortionists.
1895 Westm. Gaz. 11 July 2/1 Mr. Chamberlain is the great contortionist of the political arena.
1936 M. Plowman Faith called Pacifism 8 The man who sees war as organized murder doesn't join the Forces. He becomes a Pacifist—or a moral contortionist.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1859