Dictionary of problem words and expressions. Harry Shaw. 1975.
tortuous / torturous — Tortuous means winding, crooked, with many twists and turns : Wiley Driver was very adept at driving the tortuous mountain roads of western North Carolina. Torturous means very painful, like torture : Mick Stupp found doing math homework… … Confused words
tortuous / torturous — Tortuous means winding, crooked, with many twists and turns : Wiley Driver was very adept at driving the tortuous mountain roads of western North Carolina. Torturous means very painful, like torture : Mick Stupp found doing math homework… … Confused words
tortuous, torturous — Tortuous means winding and circuitous ( The road wound tortuously through the mountains ). When used figuratively it usually suggests crookedness or deviousness ( a tortuous tax evasion scheme ). The word is thus better avoided if all you mean … Dictionary of troublesome word
tortuous, torturous — Tortuous means winding and circuitous ( The road wound tortuously through the mountains ). When used figuratively it usually suggests crookedness or deviousness ( a tortuous tax evasion scheme ). The word is thus better avoided if all you mean … Dictionary of troublesome word
torturous — tortuous, torturous Both words are derived from Latin torquēre meaning ‘to twist’, but their literal meanings are different. The (less common) word torturous is a derivative of the English word torture, whereas tortuous has no such intermediary… … Modern English usage
tortuous — tortuous, torturous Both words are derived from Latin torquēre meaning ‘to twist’, but their literal meanings are different. The (less common) word torturous is a derivative of the English word torture, whereas tortuous has no such intermediary… … Modern English usage
torturous — See tortuous, torturous … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
tortuous — See tortuous, torturous … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
tortuous — , torturous Tortuous means winding and circuitous ( The road wound tortuously through the mountains ). When used figuratively it usually suggests deviousness ( a tortuous tax avoidance scheme ). The word is thus better avoided if all you mean… … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
torturous — tor•tur•ous [[t]ˈtɔr tʃər əs[/t]] adj. use pertaining to, involving, or causing torture or suffering • Etymology: 1490–1500; < AF; OF tortureus. See torture, ous tor′tur•ous•ly, adv. usage: torturous refers specifically to what involves or… … From formal English to slang
