Dictionary entry

Distort (2)

Webster's Dictionary 1913

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.