tormentor

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman tourmentour, from Old French tormenteor.

noun

1. One who torments; a person, animal, or object that causes suffering.
   The most persistent tormentor was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored a hat-trick in last month’s corresponding fixture in Iceland. November 10, 2011, Jeremy Wilson, “England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report”, in Telegraph
   1. (archaic) A person delegated to torture prisoners.
      All the racks and dungeons of Rome, with their tormentors, could not terrify him. 1838, William Ware, Probus, New York: C. S. Francis, Volume 1, Letter 2, p. 56
      1933, Hervey Allen, Anthony Adverse, New York: Farrar and Rinehart, Volume 1, Book 1, Chapter 6, p. 78, Her eyes rested on him for an instant like those of an accused person seeing the state tormentor approach for the first time.
2. (figurative) Something abstract that causes suffering.
   1759, Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Edinburgh: A. Kincaid and J. Bell, Part 1, Section 1, p. 10, The infant […] feels only the uneasiness of the present instant, which can never be great. With regard to the future it is perfectly secure, and in its thoughtlessness and want of foresight possesses an antidote against fear and anxiety, the great tormentors of the human breast, from which reason and philosophy will in vain attempt to defend it when it grows up to a man.
   As he spoke about his loss, it became clear why he had waited at the station platform every day to meet their train: he was matching his wits with time the great tormentor. 1995, Rohinton Mistry, chapter 15, in A Fine Balance, Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, page 630
3. (theater) One of a pair of narrow curtains just behind the front curtain and teaser that mask the areas on the sides of the stage and can be adjusted to the desired width.
   Then Nathan Eldred, gently pushing, was muttering, ‘On you go, dear. Good luck!’ and she was edging between the tormentor and the backing flats, in front of the curtain, holding her small hands out to the sudden-silenced audience […] 1940, Sinclair Lewis, chapter 24, in Bethel Merriday, London: Jonathan Cape, page 241
4. An implement for reducing a stiff soil, resembling a harrow, but running upon wheels.
5. (obsolete, nautical) A long meat-fork.
   1813, Charles Stewart, enclosure in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, dated 18 October, 1813, in William S. Dudley (editor), The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History, Washington D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, 1992, Volume 2, p. 392, Cabin furniture received onboard the U.S.F. Constellation at Washington […] 1 Cleaver and tormentors/Cook; [footnote:] A tormentor is a long iron meat fork used by sea cooks.