4. (Astrol.) Oblique; — applied to the six signs of the zodiac (from
Capricorn to Gemini) which ascend most rapidly and obliquely. [Obs.]
Skeat.
Infortunate ascendent tortuous.
Chaucer.
—Tor"tu*ous*ly, adv. — Tor"tu*ous*ness, n.
Tor"tur*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being tortured.
Tor"ture (?), n. [F.,fr.L. tortura, fr. torquere, tortum, to twist,
rack, torture; probably akin to Gr. tre`pein to turn, G. drechsein to
turn on a lathe, and perhaps to E. queer. Cf. Contort, Distort, Extort,
Retort, Tart, n., Torch, Torment, Tortion, Tort, Trope.] 1. Extreme
pain; anguish of body or mind; pang; agony; torment; as, torture of
mind. Shak.
Ghastly spasm or racking torture.
Milton.
2. Especially, severe pain inflicted judicially, either as punishment
for a crime, or for the purpose of extorting a confession from an
accused person, as by water or fire, by the boot or thumbkin, or by the
rack or wheel.