Word Finder - tortures

definition

Intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony

example

In every war there are acts of torture that cause the world to shudder.

definition

The "suffering of the heart" imposed by one on another, as in personal relationships

example

Coventry City midfielder Josh Ruffels described his 11 months out injured as 'absolute torture' after the goalless draw with Derby County Under-21s. (http//www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/eleven-months-of-absolute-torture-760652.aspx)

definition

(often as "absolute torture") stage fright, severe embarrassment

definition

To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).

example

In the aftermath of 9/11, we did some things that were wrong. We did a whole lot of things that were right, but, we tortured some folks. We did some things that were contrary to our values.

In this curious vision Wettin saw Charles the Great suffering purgatorial tortures because of his incontinence.

Diogo Lopes escaped through the gratitude of a beggar to whom he had formerly done a kindness; but Coelho and Gonzales were executed, with horrible tortures, in the very presence of the king.

His imperfect signature to his confession of this date, consisting only of his Christian name and written in a faint and trembling hand, is probably a ghastly testimony to the severity of the torture ("per grad us ad ima") which James had ordered to be applied if he would not otherwise confess and the "gentler tortures" were unavailing, - a horrible practice unrecognized by the law of England, but usually employed and justified at this time in cases of treason to obtain information.

The barbarous tortures and executions which rendered Khiva notorious in the East are no longer heard of; and the continual appeals of the khojas for "holy" war against their rivals find no response.

At the same time it is probable that the serene joys of virtue and the grieflessness which the sage was conceived to maintain amid the worst tortures, formed the main attractions of Stoicism for ordinary minds.

He is said to have been concerned in a plot against a tyrant, and on its detection to have borne with exemplary constancy the tortures to which he was subjected; but authorities differ both as to the name and the residence of the tyrant and as to the circumstances and the issue of the enterprise.

Despite tortures and martyrdoms, and thanks to the seven apostles sent from Rome in 250, during the 3rd century their branches extended all over Gaul.

They also speak of almost unimaginable tortures inflicted upon Islamist prisoners in army interrogation centers.

The worst sacrilege of all, defiling the Host, is mentioned frequently, and generally brought the death penalty accompanied by the cruellest and most ignominious tortures.

In this struggle Leger was vanquished; he was besieged in Autun, was forced to surrender and had his eyes put out, and, on the 12th of October 678, he was put to death after undergoing prolonged tortures.

The Roman governor is confounded by his insensibility to the most refined and ingenious tortures.

As president of the Iraqi National Olympic Committee, Uday allegedly tortures athletes for losing games.

Even under these horrible tortures, Victor Jara magnificently sang a portion of the song of the Popular Unity party.

When serious proof existed against one who denied his crime, he could be submitted to the question by torture; and if under torture he avowed his fault and confirmed his guilt by subsequent confession he was punished as one convicted; but should he retract he was again to be submitted to the tortures or condemned to extraordinary punishment.

And these writers delight to paint with minuteness the horrible tortures to which he was exposed and the marvellous actions which the saint performed at his death.

John sought safety in flight, but was discovered in his place of hiding and brought back to Rome, where after enduring cruel and ignominious tortures he was immured in a dungeon.

The description of the tortures suffered in the infernal regions is tolerably minute.

During most of the time he was suffering tortures from cancer in the throat, and it was only four days before his death that he finished the manuscript.

On three successive days they "examined" the prior with worse tortures than before.

The Buganda Christians 1885 showed heroism, and in spite of tortures and death the religion spread rapidly.

It does not aim at binding the opinions of men or at condemning to the tortures of hell-fire those who refuse to accept it.

During the Roman war they cheerfully underwent the most grievous tortures rather than break any of the principles of their faith.

At the head of a large shop with many assistants, his business was to turn out, generally for a small price, devotional pieces commissioned by mercantile corporations or private persons to decorate their chapels in the churches - the preference being usually for scenes of the Passion, or for tortures and martyrdoms of the saints.

Thus Stanislaus Hosius (1504-1579), a Polish cardinal and bishop of Warmie, wrote (Opera, Venice, 1 573, p. 202) " They are far readier than followers of Luther and Zwingli to meet death, and bear the harshest tortures for their faith.

He was immediately laid under arrest, and after various tortures, finally put to death at Nicomedia (his body being afterwards taken to Lydda) on the 23rd of April 303.

The attempts to suppress these, the harsh measures taken against those who attended them or connived at them, or refused to give information against them, the military violence and the judicial severities, the confiscations, imprisonments, tortures, expatriations, all make up a dreadful narrative..

Churches were burned; bishops and priests were forced by cruel and revolting tortures to reveal the hiding-places of the sacred vessels; the rich provincials who were employed about the court, and who still adhered to the Catholic faith, were racked and beaten, and put to death.

It is my intention, moreover, to recount the misfortunes which immediately came on the whole Jewish nation in consequence of their plots against our Saviour, and to record the ways and times in which the divine word has been attacked by the Gentiles, and to describe the character of those who at various periods have contended for it in the face of blood and tortures, as well as the confessions which have been made in our own day, and the gracious and kindly succour which our Saviour has accorded them all."

The tortures which some of these wretches will inflict upon themselves are almost incredible.

About 1615 the British formed a settlement in the island, at Cambello, which they retained until 1623, when it was destroyed by the Dutch, and frightful tortures inflicted on the unfortunate persons connected with it.

He too is flouted, and in his rage tortures and slays her and her companions.

Everywhere intense indignation was aroused by the cruel tortures and executions.