Meaning of tormentum | Babel Free

Definitions

1. an engine for hurling missiles; a shot or missile thrown by this, artillery
   declension-2, neuter
2. a (twisted) cord or rope
   declension-2, neuter
3. an instrument of torture
   declension-2, neuter
4. torture, anguish, pain, torment
   declension-2, neuter
5. a clothes press, mangle
   declension-2, neuter
6. gun, cannon
   New-Latin, declension-2, neuter

Equivalents

Examples

“At illī, quibus nōn tantum cōram dominīs, sed cum ipsīs erat sermō — quōrum os nōn cōnsuēbātur — parātī erant prō dominō porrigere cervīcem, perīculum imminēns in caput suum āvertere; in convīviīs loquēbantur, sed in tormentīs tacēbant.”

But those [slaves] for whom not only in-person to [their] masters but with themselves was conversation [permitted] — whose mouth was not stitched shut — ready they were on behalf of the master to offer the neck, an impending danger onto their own head to turn; at dinner parties they were speaking, but in tortures they were silent. (In other words, Seneca makes the extraordinary claim that slaves who are treated humanely will sacrifice themselves and refuse to testify under torture. See, e.g.: Pythias (Roman).)

CEFR level