Retort vs Torture - What's the difference?
retort | torture |
A sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator; a comeback.
To say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation.
*{{quote-book, year=1905, author=
, title=
, chapter=1 To make a remark which reverses an argument upon its originator; to return, as an argument, accusation, censure, or incivility.
* Milton
To bend or curve back.
* Southey
To throw back; to reverberate; to reflect.
* Shakespeare
(chemistry) A flask with a rounded base and a long neck that is bent down and tapered, used to heat a liquid for distillation.
:* 1893', A large curved ' retort was boiling furiously in the bluish flame of a Bunsen burner, and the distilled drops were condensing into a two-litre measure. — Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘The Naval Treaty’ (Norton 2005, p.670)
A container in which material is subjected to high temperatures]] as part of an industrial manufacturing process, especially during the smelting and [[forge, forging of metal.
Intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.
(chiefly, literary) The "suffering of the heart" imposed by one on another, as in personal relationships.
To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).
As verbs the difference between retort and torture
is that retort is to say something sharp or witty in answer to a remark or accusation or retort can be to heat in a retort while torture is .As a noun retort
is a sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an argument against its originator; a comeback or retort can be (chemistry) a flask with a rounded base and a long neck that is bent down and tapered, used to heat a liquid for distillation.retort
English
(wikipedia retort)Etymology 1
From (etyl) retortus, from .Noun
(en noun)Verb
(en verb)citation, passage=“It is a pity,” he retorted with aggravating meekness, “that they do not use a little common sense. The case resembles that of Columbus' ?egg, and is every bit as simple. […]”}}
- to retort the charge of vanity
- And with retorted scorn his back he turned.
- a retorted line
- With retorted head, pruned themselves as they floated.
- As when his virtues, shining upon others, / Heat them and they retort that heat again / To the first giver.
Synonyms
* (sharp reply) comeback, rejoinder, back answerEtymology 2
From (etyl) retorte.Noun
(en noun)Anagrams
* English reporting verbstorture
English
(wikipedia torture)Noun
(en noun)- Using large dogs to attack bound, hand-cuffed prisoners is clearly torture .
- In every war there are acts of torture that cause the world to shudder.
- People confess to anything under torture .
- Every time she says 'goodbye' it is torture !
Derived terms
* torture chamber *Verb
(tortur)- People who torture often have sadistic tendencies.