early 15c., "contortion, twisting, distortion; a disorder characterized by contortion," from Old French torture "infliction of great pain; great pain, agony" (12c.), and directly from Late Latin tortura "a twisting, writhing," in Medieval Latin "pain inflicted by judicial or ecclesiastical authority as a means of punishment or persuasion," from stem of Latin torquere "to twist, turn, wind, wring, distort" (see torque (n.)). The meaning "infliction of severe bodily pain as a means of punishment or persuasion" in English is from 1550s. The theory behind judicial torture was that a guilty person could be made to confess, but an innocent one could not, by this means. Macaulay writes that it was last inflicted in England in May 1640.
torture (v.)
1580s, from torture (n.). Related: Tortured; torturing.
双语例句
1. The friction of the sheets against his skin was torture.
被单摩擦着他的皮肤，简直像是酷刑。
来自柯林斯例句
2. 2,000 prisoners died as a result of torture and maltreatment.
2,000名犯人死于拷打和虐待。
来自柯林斯例句
3. There are consistent reports of electrical torture being practised on inmates.
一直有报道称犯人被施以电刑。
来自柯林斯例句
4. I believed that in civilized countries, torture had ended long ago.
我原以为在文明国家，严刑拷打早已销声匿迹。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The confessions were obtained by what amounts to torture.