torment

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

tor·ment [torment torments tormented tormenting] noun, verb
noun BrE [ˈtɔːment] ; NAmE [ˈtɔːrment] uncountable, countable (formal)
extreme suffering, especially mental suffering; a person or thing that causes this
Syn: ↑anguish
•the cries of a man in torment
•She suffered years of mental torment after her son's death.
•The flies were a terrible torment.

Word Origin:
Middle English (as both noun and verb referring to the infliction or suffering of torture): Old French torment (noun), tormenter (verb), from Latin tormentum ‘instrument of torture’, from torquere ‘to twist’.

Example Bank:
•Hell as a place of eternal torment
•She has suffered great mental torment.
•The sea wailed like a soul in torment.
•the torment inflicted on a young girl by her mother
•She suffered years of mental torment after her son's death.
•Somehow, with her soul in torment, she managed to get through the day.

 
verb BrE [tɔːˈment] ; NAmE [tɔːrˈment]
1. ~ sb (formal)to make sb suffer very much
Syn: ↑plague
•He was tormented by feelings of insecurity.
2. ~ sb/sth to annoy a person or an animal in a cruel way because you think it is amusing
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Middle English (as both noun and verb referring to the infliction or suffering of torture): Old French torment (noun), tormenter (verb), from Latin tormentum ‘instrument of torture’, from torquere ‘to twist’.
 
Syn: ↑torture

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  badgering, worrying, bedevilment, curse, harassment, agony, torture, anguish, excruciate, rag, bedevil, crucify, dun, frustrate, rack