Category:Distort

Dis*tort", a. Etym: [L. distortus, p. p. of distorquere to twist, distort; dis- + torquere to twist. See Torsion.]

Defn: Distorted; misshapen. [Obs.] Her face was ugly and her mouth distort. Spenser.

distort Dis*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Distorting.]

1. To twist of natural or regular shape; to twist aside physically; as, to distort the limbs, or the body. Whose face was distorted with pain. Thackeray.

2. To force or put out of the true posture or direction; to twist aside mentally or morally. Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and distort the understandings of men. Tillotson.

3. To wrest from the true meaning; to pervert; as, to distort passages of Scripture, or their meaning.

Syn. -- To twist; wrest; deform; pervert.