torturare

to torture

verb tor-too-RAH-reh Rare

Origin: Latin torturare, from tortura (twisting, torment).

Also means

to torment

Usage Note

Torturare takes avere as its auxiliary in compound tenses: lo hanno torturato (they tortured him). It is used both literally (physical torture) and figuratively (mi torturai la mente = I racked my brain). The reflexive torturarsi means to torment oneself or to rack one's brains.

Examples

"Non torturare più quella povera bestia."

Natural Translation

Stop torturing that poor animal.

Literal Translation

Not torture anymore that poor beast.

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