Lewis & Short

tortŭōsus, a, um, adj. [tortus].

  1. I. Full of crooks or turns, winding, tortuous (class.).
    1. A. Lit.: est autem (alvus) multiplex et tortuosa, Cic. N. D. 2, 54, 136: loca, id. ib. 2, 57, 144: serrula, id. Clu. 64, 180: per tortuosi amnis sinus flexusque, Liv. 27, 47, 10: serpens, Vulg. Isa. 27, 1: coluber, id. Job, 26, 13.
      Comp.: quiddam tortuosius, Plin. 11, 46, 106, § 255.
    2. B. Trop., entangled, involved, complicated, confused: tortuosum genus disputandi, Cic. Ac. 2, 31, 98: visa quaedam tortuosa et obscura, id. Div. 2, 63, 129: ingenium, id. Lael. 18, 65: res anxiae et tortuosae, Gell. 13, 11, 4.
      Sup.: quis aperit tortuosissimam istam et implicatissimam nodositatem? Aug. Conf. 2, 10.
  2. * II. Painful, torturing: rusci radix bibitur in tortuosiore urinā, i. e. in strangury, Plin. 21, 27, 100, § 173.
    * Adv.: tortŭōsē, crookedly, tortuously: procedat serpens, Tert. adv. Valent. 4, 43 fin.