tormentum (noun N) : torqueo, an instrument with which any thing is turned or twisted.
* An engine for hurling missiles.
* Lit.: tormenta telorum,Cic. Tusc. 2, 24, 57: tormentis Mutinam verberavit,id. Phil. 8, 7, 20; Caes. B. G. 2, 8; 4, 25; id. B. C. 1, 17; Hirt. B. G. 8, 14, 5: machinator bellicorum tormentorum,Liv. 24, 34, 2; Sil. 6, 279; Tac. A. 2, 81; id. H. 3, 20; 4, 23; Curt. 4, 3, 13.
* A (twisted) cord, rope: praesectis crinibus tormenta effecerunt, Caes. B. C. 3, 9: falces tormentis introrsus reducebant,id. B. G. 7, 22, 2: laxare,Quint. Decl. 19, 15; Grat. Cyn. 26; Auct. Priap. 6: stuppeum,App. Mag. p. 276, 14: ferreum,i. e. fetters,Plaut. Curc. 2, 1, 12; cf.: sine tormentorum injuriā,Petr. 102.
* An instrument of torture, a rack.
* Lit.: verberibus ac tormentis quaestionem habere,Cic. Phil. 11, 2, 5; 11, 4, 8; 13, 9, 21: quaerere de aliquo tormentis,id. Deiot. 1, 3; id. Clu. 63, 176 sq.; id. Mil. 21, 57; 22, 58; id. Sull. 28, 78; id. Off. 3, 9, 39; id. Part. Or. 14, 50; id. Tusc. 5, 28, 80; Caes. B. G. 6, 18; Quint. 2, 20, 10; 3, 5, 10; Suet. Tib. 19; 58; 62 al.: tu lene tormentum ingenio admoves,a rack of a mild sort,Hor. C. 3, 21, 13.
* A clothes-press, mangle, Sen. Tranq. 1, 3.