torment
/icons/point.icon AFFLICT, TRY, TORMENT, TORTURE, RACK mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear.
AFFLICT is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.
e.g. ills that afflict the elderly
TRY suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.
e.g. children often try their parents' patience
TORMENT suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.
e.g. a horse tormented by flies
TORTURE adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.
e.g. tortured by a sense of guilt
RACK stresses straining or wrenching.
e.g. a body racked by pain
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noun | ˈtôrment |
severe physical or mental suffering:
｟かたく｠ 〖具体例では可算〗(精神的)苦悩; (肉体的)苦痛 (!sufferingより強く長引く苦しみ)
e.g. their deaths have left both families in torment.
a cause of suffering:
苦悩, 苦痛を与えるもの, 人; 悩みの種.
e.g. the journey must have been a torment for them.
verb | tôrˈment | with object
cause to experience severe mental or physical suffering:
｟かたく｠ 〈人･物･事が〉 «…で» 〈人〉をひどく苦しめる, 悩ませる «with»
e.g. he was tormented by jealousy.
annoy or provoke in a deliberately unkind way:
〈人･動物〉をいじめる
e.g. every day I have kids tormenting me because they know I live alone.
DERIVATIVES
tormentedly | tôrˈmentədlē | adverb
tormentingly | tôrˈmen(t)iNGlē | adverb
ORIGIN
Middle English (as both noun and verb referring to the infliction or suffering of torture): Old French torment (noun), tormenter (verb), from Latin tormentum ‘instrument of torture’, from torquere ‘to twist’.