The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

torture \tor"ture\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. tortured
   (t[^o]r"t[-u]rd; 135); p. pr. & vb. n. tTorturing.] [Cf. F.
   Torturer. ]
   1. To put to torture; to pain extremely; to harass; to vex.
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   2. To punish with torture; to put to the rack; as, to torture
      an accused person. --Shak.
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   3. To wrest from the proper meaning; to distort. --Jar.
      Taylor.
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   4. To keep on the stretch, as a bow. [Obs.]
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            The bow tortureth the string.         --Bacon.
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