Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An obsolete spelling of torsion.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun obsolete Torment; pain.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun obsolete torment; pain

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin tortio. See torsion.

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Examples

  • I was born with a tibial tortion (I don't know how to spell that).

    MY KNEES (PART ONE) -- DIAGNOSIS Maggie Jochild 2007

  • Perhaps Nimue depended on some form of visual dis - tortion by day and terrifying illusions by night, which would be a natural enough defense against most men.

    Merlin's Mirror Norton, Andre 1975

  • By no tortion of ethics can I demand that he, who does me a favor, shall pay me for the privilege.

    Usury A Scriptural, Ethical and Economic View Calvin Elliott

  • Now I saw the push and tortion and trembling of her poor little under-lip, boding tears: and at once a flame was in me which was altogether beyond control; and crying out: 'why, my poor dear,' I found myself in the act of rushing through the staggering boat to take her to me.

    The Purple Cloud 1906

  • The same naturalist even found means to determine that the directing powers of the needle, which he had measured by help of his _balance de tortion_, stand to the length of the needle in such a ratio as that, provided only the length of the needle is from forty to fifty times its diameter, the momenta of these directing powers will increase in the very same direct proportion as the length is increased.

    Hints towards the formation of a more comprehensive theory of life. Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1803

  • Thefe drains, added to the immenfe treafures which the ex - tortion of Coflim Ali enabled him to carry off, exceedingly reduced the ftock of the country, and the diforders which had arifen in the difl; rias threat - ened to impair its annual produce.

    Observations on the state of society Grant, Charles 1792

  • And upon thefe occasions, he attacked the vices of the great with honeft freedom, and charged them particularly with covetoufnefs, bribery, and ex* tortion from the poor, fo home, that it was impoffible for them, by any felf deceit, to avoid the direft application of his reproofs to themfeives -

    The British Plutarch 1791

  • Benevolences to the Crown il - legal, and a tyrannical ex - tortion, 29.

    History of the war with America, France, Spain, and Holland : commencing in 1775 and ending in 1783 1785

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