Definition of the word torment

The origin of the word "torment" can be traced back to the Middle English "tormen" or "tormente," which derived from the Old French "torment" or "tormente." These in turn were ultimately derived from the Latin "tormentum," which meant "instrument of torture." The Latin word "tormentum" has its roots in the verb "torquere," meaning "to twist." This verb was also the origin of the English word "torque," which originally referred to a twisted neck collar or neck ring, and was later extended to refer to ornate decorative neck rings worn by ancient Celts, Gauls, and Germans. The Latin word "tormentum" itself was originally used in a specific legal context, referring to a particular type of legal fine or punishment imposed by Roman magistrates. Later, it came to broadly encompass any form of severe suffering or agony inflicted on a person, especially as a form of punishment, hence the current meaning of the word in English and other languages. The literal "instrument of torture" sense of the word is still used in some contexts, particularly in legal or medical terminology.