torturousadj.
/ˈtɔːtjʊərəs/ a. Full of, involving, or causing torture; tormenting, excruciating; in first quot., given to inflicting torture.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > torture > [adjective] > that tortures > given to inflicting
torturous1496
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > cause of mental anguish or torment > [adjective]
anguishous?c1225
wounding?c1225
asperc1374
derflya1400
rending?c1400
furiousc1405
fretting1413
piercingc1450
anguish1477
piquant1521
anguishing?1566
plaguing1566
asperous?1567
agonizing1570
tormenting1575
wringing1576
cutting1582
tormentous1583
tormentful1596
tormentuous1597
racking1598
torturous1600
lacerating1609
torturing1611
tearinga1616
heart-aching1620
breast-rending1625
crucifying1648
tormentative1654
martyring?a1656
tormentive1655
discruciating1658
cruciatory1660
anguishful1685
brain-racking1708
probing1749
agonized1793
anguished1803
harrowing1810
vulnerary1821
grinding1869
torturesome1889
wrenching1889
tortuous1922
society > authority > punishment > torture > [adjective] > that tortures
tormenting1575
tormentous1583
torturous1600
torturing1611
1496 Epit. Iaspar Late Duke of Beddeforde (Pynson) sig. aivv O turmentoure, traytoure, torterous tyraunte.
1600 Abp. G. Abbot Expos. Prophet Ionah 199 Dying he must live and living he must dy in a torturous execution.
1618 M. Baret Hipponomie i. 38 They follow the torterous inuentions of hard snaffles.
1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks II. iv. 146 The assuaging of the most torturous Pain.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxv. 1 Outworn with sorrow, with hours of torturous anguish.
b. figurative. Involving perversion or violent dislocation (of words, etc.): cf. torture n. 3, torture v. 3b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > obscurity > [adjective] > complex
intricate?a1500
crabby1550
implicate1555
crabbed1561
intortive1575
implexeda1620
network1675
tortious1682
embarrassed1695
implex1712
wimpleda1722
wrapped1787
hydriform1822
torturous1841
sinuous1853
tortuous1858
involuteda1910
1841 I. D'Israeli Amenities Lit. II. 259 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.
Derivatives
ˈtorturously adv. very painfully.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > cause of mental anguish or torment > [adverb]
unsoftOE
sharplya1023
derfly?c1225
derfc1325
pinefullyc1390
anguishouslyc1440
heinouslya1555
tormentingly1575
keenlya1593
cuttingly1611
torturingly?a1625
stingingly1667
severelya1682
piercingly1781
harrowingly1799
excruciatingly1808
martyrly1819
pinchingly1825
crucifyingly1826
torturously1857
woundingly1887
scarifyingly1921
society > authority > punishment > torture > [adverb] > painfully or severely
torturously1857
1857 W. Arnot Let. in Mrs. A. Fleming Life (1877) vi. 320 They make the carriages torturously hard.
a1876 J. Addis Elizabethan Echoes (1879) 77 A fate Through all thy Future torturously throbbing.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.1496