contort

Equivalent to con- + -tort; from Middle English, borrowed from Latin contortus, past participle of contorqueō, from com- + torqueō (“twist, turn”).

• IPA^(key): /kənˈtɔː(ɹ)t/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)t

contort (third-person singular simple present contorts, present participle contorting, simple past and past participle contorted)

1. (transitive) To twist in a violent manner.

   features contorted with fury

2. (intransitive) To twist into or as if into a strained shape or expression.

• deform
• detort
• twist

• contortion
• contortive
• contortionist

• Norcott