Middle English Dictionary Entry
torment n.
Entry Info
| Forms | torment n. Also tormente, turment(e, tourmen(t & tornement, tornament(e, turnemen(t, turnament, turno-, tourne-, (errors) turnent, toret; pl. torment(e)s, etc. & tormen(e)s, tormensse, turmenz, tourmenttis, tournementus. |
| Etymology | OF torment, tourment, AF turment (with pl. tormenz, turmenz) & OF tormente, AF turmente & L tormentum; forms with -na-, -ne-, etc. indicate some confusion with ME tǒurnement n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The systematic infliction of physical pain or an instance of it; applied torture; also, punishment; (b) a cause of physical or mental suffering, an affliction, a hardship; also, a disaster, an evil predicament.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)29/82 : Forto torni is þouȝt, Alle manere turmenz huy him duden.
- c1300 SLeg.And.(Hrl 2277)18 : Cristenemen..he let take To make hem wiþ his turmentz [CmbAdd: tormentez] Cristendom forsake.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10523 : Some hii nome and tormentede in diuerse tormens.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)161/9 : Þe oþer comþ þerof þet me yziȝþ þe greate tormens hidouse..of helle.
- a1350 SLeg.Juliana (Ashm 43)66 : Þe deuel..sede..Þat heo, tormentes uorte fle, dude þe Justices bone.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Esd.8.27 : Besily be þei punshid, or bi deþ or bi torment or also bi multing of monee.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)314/5 : A seruant is noȝt amended with turmentis [L tormenta] but rathir apeired.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3278 : She..had þe same turment, And brende ryȝt as she dede before.
- a1400 Comp.Our Lady (Pep 2498)74/8 : Men..schull done hym many vilenies & tourmentz & done hym after opon þe rode.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)4260 : A manere sal be thurgh fals prechyng..And..thurgh drede of turmentis griefe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.3.6 : To good folk ne lakketh neveremo hir meedes, ne schrewes ne lakken neveremo turmentes.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)45.75 : Alle that ȝow Tornementis do, they scholen ben browht In sorwe & wo.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.252 : Lawefull punyschement..peynes and torment For dyuers folke [vr. wikked folkes] were ferst ordeyned.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)110a : Ihesus..Þow dredes not oure tourmentz [vr. tournementus].
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)5/4 : No þer is no þing þat so displesith oure lord and deseruith torment as doth self wille and in obediens.
- a1475 Against Lollards (Vsp B.16)114 : Iames among hem alle..twyes had turnement.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)114 : They þat wer wonte to syghe and wepe for peyne of oure turmentys now..mokke vs.
- a1500 St.Kath.(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)337 : Thys turnament ys so deuysyd, I schall be in my blode baptysyd.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)252/6 : Ine þise wordle non ne may libbe wyþ-oute torment and wyþ-oute zome viȝtinge of temptacion.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)139.11 : Tourmentz shul falle vp hem.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)12516 : Þre þousend shyppes were dreynt þurgh me..yn-to þe wynde y wente, And broȝt hem alle to þat turment.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5860 : Perdicas..al his lordes tourment seiȝ.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.7.5 : Oon affliccioun, or tourment, loo! affliccioun cometh.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.404 : Every torment and adversite..may to me savory thinke.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)117/27 : He wende to a retourned in-to his contre þrough manye grete & parlious tormentis þat he hadde.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)27.43 : Ȝit God him wolde Asayen wel more; For him weren Comeng Many tormensse.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)8 : It is no wonder though ye be gretely affraied of the turment that is falle of youre fader.
2.
(a) The physical suffering resulting from the deliberate infliction of pain; endured torture; hell-pain; also, a state of pain; (b) physical, mental, or spiritual suffering; agony, anguish; also, a feeling of pain; in ~, in a state of suffering; don ~, to cause (the body) to feel discomfort; (c) med. an acute abdominal pain; abdominal distress; (d) don ~, to cause (a newly planted cutting) to be disturbed.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 S.Leg.Faith(1) (LdMisc 108)33 : Heo bad ore louerd..þat he ire ȝeue..in hire tormenz treowe heorte.
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(LdMisc 108)78 : Þou sendest us þare we gret wo i-fielde, In gret torment and brenningue.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)266 : He shal fonge his iugement To ioye or to strong turment [vr. tournement].
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)79/15 : He ssel by ine þe more gratter torment..ate daye of dome.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.151 : After þe diuerste of synnes & after þe mychelnesse of synnes shal be þe gretnesse of peynes & of tourmentz.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3779 : Goddes peple..wolde he sleen in torment [vr. tornement] and in payne.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)149 : Such toret [read: torment] and teone takeþ me þis tyde.
- c1400 Apoc.(2) (Hrl 171)18/13 : Þei þat ben apparailid to suffre turmentis for þe trewe feiþ beren it up.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.4.283 : They ne aughten nat..demen..that thilke peynes weren tormentz [vr. tourmentes] to hem.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)190-91 : In bromstane I burne..It were tore tille any tonge my tourmenttis [Dc: turment] to telle!
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)35/12 : O fire of helle..of whome..the assches is pouerte and the ende is the turment [vr. turnementes] of helle.
- ?a1450 Mem.Cred.(Tan 201)168/22 : Hy be neuer with outen turnoment and payne þat nold nat forsake hare synne.
- c1450(1438) GLeg.St.Barth.(GiL116) (Eg 876)81/6 : For to haue gretter turnement he was hilt, and at the laste he was beheded.
- a1480(c1450) Barlaam (2) (Peterh 257)9/241 : Þou sholdist be brente and haue greuous turmente.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)2.5 : Thaim that he dampnes til hell, he makis thaim as thai ware for tourment wode.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)277/617 : Thus wykydly..he is shent, with so bytter tornamente.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)305/375 : Lord, we were worthy more tornamentys to tast.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Marg.(Hrl 2277)34 : Þis ȝunge maide..in our louerd gan crie Þat he sende hire..hurte &..þe tourmentz [Corp-C: tormenes] of deþe.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)325 : He..lay in grete turment [vr. turmente].
- ?a1350 Guy(3) (Wales 572)172 : Of luf he plenys him stitheli That gerys him tourment dedely.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.11.14 : I shal nott heren in þe tyme of þer cry to me, in tyme of þer torment.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1298 : Peyne that loue me yeueth..doubleth al my torment [vr. tourmen] and my wo.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1101 : In langour and in torment furyus [vr. turnemen]..lay wrecche Aurelius.
- c1400 Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)29/151 : He coueytede no-þyng more þan þat þat myȝte do his body turment and disese.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3446 : Ȝoure-silf to drowne in torment [vr. tornament] and in woo..Is gret foly.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.427 : She comth in Troie That cause is of my torment [vrr. turnent, tormente] and my joie.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)104a/b : Þe whiche mater, when þat it is meued, aftirwarde it makeþ þe seke to haue gretter akkeþ & turment.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)154 : Þi wit..is fer fro þe went, Þorgh þe assent of þi greuouse turment.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)44/27 : Thei felt neithir woo ne sorow..torment ne myssese.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)121 : I tastid the water of the floode, bitterer than elebor or elder, that neither I ne no maner beeste myght drynke without grete turment.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)51 : Sche had suffred þat nyght..gret tourment yn her sleepe.
c
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)398/13 : Ofte in þe wombe is ache and turnement [L tortura] þat comeþ of humours engleymed in guttis and bowellis.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)402/2 : If it comeþ of wormes, þere is turment [L tortura] and ache..And somtyme he castiþ out wormes.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1038/27 : Broþ of rue abateþ harde tormentes and gnawynge [L tormenta] of þe wombe.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)114 : Ilyk..sounere sleeth thorough his torment thane dooth the Colyke.
d
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.119 : Writhe not the hed of thy sarment When hit is sette, ner..do hit no torment.
3.
An instrument of torture; also, a war machine, esp. a catapult.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.6.51 : He..ordeynyde there balistis, and engynes..and tourmentis for to cast stoons and dartis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Mac.7.1 : It bifelle seuen bretheren..for to be constreyned..hem tourmentid with scourgyngis, and tourment maad of bole lether.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1125/16 : Regulus þe emperour slough oon addre wiþ alblastes and tormentes [L tormentis].
- c1450(1438) GLeg.St.Geo.(GiL54)(Eg 876)69/12 : He comaunded that he shulde be putte into a torment the whiche is called amonge hem eculee, the whiche is a crosse and the two endes fastened in the erthe.
- c1450(1438) GLeg.St.Geo.(GiL54)(Eg 876)69/14 : Vpon that torment his body shulde be al torent withe hokes of iren membre fro membre.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)899 : The ferrour & the smyth..and vch other craft goth with..Tormentys olde and carrys to repare.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1147 : To repare The gunnys and engynys & tormente And forge newe..Ful late is it if thi foo be presente.
4.
A fierce storm, esp. a tempest at sea.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(Hrl 2277:Wright)p.136 : For theras the weder is, ther is turment strong Of wynd, of water, and of fur.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.148 : Þei..In to þe se of Spayn wer dryuen in a torment Among þe Sarazins.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)2/11 : The wynde drove hym and his navye by gret tourment.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)9/18 : So was the wynde strong and the tourment of the see that made theym to arive vpon a roche ayeinst a forest.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)244/18 : In al regions the hettes bene encreschid, the turmentes of the eeyre swagyth, the see wixit calme.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. torment.