Lewis & Short

tormentum, i, n. [torqueo, an instrument with which any thing is turned or twisted].

  1. I. An engine for hurling missiles.
    1. A. Lit.: tormenta telorum, Cic. Tusc. 2, 24, 57: tormentis Mutinam verberavit, id. Phil. 8, 7, 20; Caes. B. G. 2, 8; 4, 25; id. B. C. 1, 17; Hirt. B. G. 8, 14, 5: machinator bellicorum tormentorum, Liv. 24, 34, 2; Sil. 6, 279; Tac. A. 2, 81; id. H. 3, 20; 4, 23; Curt. 4, 3, 13.
    2. B. Transf., a missile, shot thrown by the engine: quod unum genus tegumenti nullo telo neque tormento transici posse, Caes. B. C. 2, 9; telum tormentumve missum, id. ib. 3, 51; 3, 56; Plin. 8, 23, 35, § 85; Stat. Th. 9, 145; Curt. 4, 2, 9.
  2. II. A (twisted) cord, rope: praesectis crinibus tormenta effecerunt, Caes. B. C. 3, 9: falces tormentis introrsus reducebant, id. B. G. 7, 22, 2: laxare, Quint. Decl. 19, 15; Grat. Cyn. 26; Auct. Priap. 6: stuppeum, App. Mag. p. 276, 14: ferreum, i. e. fetters, Plaut. Curc. 2, 1, 12; cf.: sine tormentorum injuriā, Petr. 102.
  3. III. An instrument of torture, a rack.
    1. A. Lit.: verberibus ac tormentis quaestionem habere, Cic. Phil. 11, 2, 5; 11, 4, 8; 13, 9, 21: quaerere de aliquo tormentis, id. Deiot. 1, 3; id. Clu. 63, 176 sq.; id. Mil. 21, 57; 22, 58; id. Sull. 28, 78; id. Off. 3, 9, 39; id. Part. Or. 14, 50; id. Tusc. 5, 28, 80; Caes. B. G. 6, 18; Quint. 2, 20, 10; 3, 5, 10; Suet. Tib. 19; 58; 62 al.: tu lene tormentum ingenio admoves, a rack of a mild sort, Hor. C. 3, 21, 13.
    2. B. Transf., in gen., torture, anguish, pain, torment, etc.: cruciatus et tormenta pati, Plin. Ep. 1, 12, 6; cf.: tormento liberari, Col. 6, 7, 1; so of the torture or pain of sickness, Cels. 7, 11; Plin. 19, 8, 44, § 155; 20, 4, 13, § 27; 22, 22, 37, § 79: tormenta fortunae, Cic. Tusc. 5, 1, 1: caecae suspitionis, Caecin. ap. Cic. Fam. 6, 7, 4: invidiā Siculi non invenere tyranni Majus tormentum, Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 59; Juv. 2, 137: esse in tormentis, Plin. Ep. 8, 23, 9: incredibiles cruciatus et indignissima tormenta pati, id. ib. 1, 12, 6: tormentum sibi injungere, id. Pan. 86, 1: bene tormentis secubituque coli, Ov. Am. 3, 10, 16; so of the pain of love, Mart. 7, 29, 1: tormentis gaudet amantis, Juv. 6, 209: animi tormenta latentis in aegro Corpore, id. 9, 18.
  4. IV. A clothes-press, mangle, Sen. Tranq. 1, 3.