βασανιστήριο

Greek

Etymology

From Ancient Greek βασανιστήριο (basanistḗrio), equivalent to βασανίζω (vasanízo, “to torture”) +‎ -τήριο (-tírio).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /vasaniˈstiɾio/
• Hyphenation: βα‧σα‧νι‧στή‧ρι‧ο

Noun

βασανιστήριο • (vasanistírio) n (plural βασανιστήρια)

1. torture (intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony)

   Η μαστίγωση είναι γνωστό βασανιστήριο.

   I mastígosi eínai gnostó vasanistírio.

   Whipping is a known (method of) torture.

2. (figuratively, proscribed) torture, torment, anguish, suffering (extreme mental or emotional pain)

   Πέρασα πολλά βασανιστήρια στη ζωή μου.

   Pérasa pollá vasanistíria sti zoḯ mou.

   I went through many torments in my life.

Usage notes

The Babiniotis dictionary proscribes sense 2 but includes it anyway. Figurative senses are more correctly denoted by βάσανο (vásano).

Declension

	singular	plural
nominative	βασανιστήριο (vasanistírio)	βασανιστήρια (vasanistíria)
genitive	βασανιστηρίου (vasanistiríou) βασανιστήριου (vasanistíriou)	βασανιστηρίων (vasanistiríon)
accusative	βασανιστήριο (vasanistírio)	βασανιστήρια (vasanistíria)
vocative	βασανιστήριο (vasanistírio)	βασανιστήρια (vasanistíria)

Synonyms

• (figurative senses): βάσανο n (vásano), ταλαιπωρία f (talaiporía), δοκιμασία f (dokimasía)

Related terms

• βασανιστής n (vasanistís, “torturer, tormentor”)
• βασανίστρια f (vasanístria, “tormentor”)
• βασανιστικός (vasanistikós, “brutal, agonising”)
• βάσανος f (vásanos, “examination, investigation”)