
好词典

源自拉丁语 'tortura'(扭曲、折磨),通过古法语 'torturer' 进入英语,最初指施加身体痛苦,后引申为精神折磨和事物扭曲的状态。
❶ 形容人或动物遭受严重身体或精神折磨的状态,通常表现为极度痛苦或扭曲的表情。
“The prisoner had a tortured expression after days of interrogation.”
(经过多日审讯后,囚犯脸上露出痛苦扭曲的表情。)
“Her tortured screams could be heard throughout the building.”
(她痛苦的尖叫声整栋楼都能听见。)
❶ 形容事物被过度复杂化或扭曲的状态,显得不自然或令人不适。
“His explanation was a tortured attempt to justify the mistake.”
(他的解释是为错误辩护的牵强说辞。)
“The movie's plot became increasingly tortured and hard to follow.”
(电影情节变得越来越扭曲难懂。)
tortured soul — 指长期承受精神或情感痛苦的人,常用来形容艺术家或敏感人群。
“Van Gogh is often portrayed as the archetypal tortured soul.”
(梵高常被描绘成典型受折磨的灵魂。)
tortured logic — 指牵强附会、不合常理的推理方式,通常为了支持某个站不住脚的论点。
“His defense relied on tortured logic that ignored basic facts.”
(他的辩护依赖于忽视基本事实的牵强逻辑。)