tort
LatinVariants
Related Roots
About This Root
From Latin torquēre (to twist, wrench), past participle tortum. Variants include tour- and turn-. A versatile root: torture (twisting pain), contort (twist together), distort (twist apart), extort (twist out of someone), retort (twist back — a sharp reply), tornado (a twisting storm), tour/tourist (originally a "turning" journey), and attorney (one turned to for legal help).
Associated Words
attorney
A lawyer who advises and represents clients in legal matters
contort
To twist into an unnatural or strained shape
contortion
A twisted or distorted shape or movement; extreme bending of the body
contour
The outline or shape of something; a line connecting equal altitudes on a map
detour
An alternative route around an obstacle; to take such a route
distort
To twist out of shape; to misrepresent the truth
distorted
Twisted out of shape; misrepresented from the truth
distortion
Twisting out of shape; misrepresentation of truth; signal distortion
extort
To obtain something by threats or force
extortion
Obtaining money or valuables through threats or force
retort
To reply sharply to a criticism; a sharp or witty comeback
return
to go or come back; a profit or act of coming back
torch
A flaming stick or electric flashlight; to set fire to
torment
Severe suffering; to cause great pain or distress
tornado
A violent rotating windstorm with a funnel cloud
tortoise
A slow-moving land reptile with a protective shell
tortuous
Full of twists and turns; not straightforward
tortuously
In a winding or overly complicated manner
torture
To inflict severe pain on someone; the act of doing so
torturous
Causing great pain or suffering
tour
A journey for sightseeing or performance; to travel through a place
touring
Travelling to or performing in different places; the activity of sightseeing travel
tourism
Travelling for pleasure; the industry serving travellers
tourist
A person who travels for pleasure
tournament
A series of competitive games to determine an overall winner
tourniquet
A tight bandage applied to a limb to stop severe bleeding
tours
Journeys through places for pleasure or performance; to travel through a place
turtle
A reptile with a hard shell; to flip upside down
undistorted
Free from distortion; accurate