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con·tort

(kən-tôrt)

v. con·tort·ed, con·tort·ing, con·torts

v.tr.

1. To twist, wrench, or bend out of proper or natural shape: fingers contorted by arthritis. See Synonyms at distort.

2. To cause to deviate from what is normal, proper, or accurate: The leaders of the movement contorted their own principles in trying to get what they wanted.

v.intr.

To become contorted: "Her face contorts with pain and horror, as if something deep inside her has been shattered" (Rachel Simon).

[Latin contorquēre, contort-, to twist : com-, intensive pref.; see COM- + torquēre, to twist; see terk^w- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

con·tortion n.

con·tortive adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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