contortive

[ kuhn-tawr-tiv ]

adjective

1. characterized by, tending toward, or causing contortions or twisting:

   contortive movements; contortive pain; contortive alleyways.

Other Words From

• con·tortive·ly adverb
• uncon·tortive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contortive¹

First recorded in 1855–60; contort + -ive

Example Sentences

Then, with a contortive shudder, he rolled over and over the steps, and lay face downward upon the ground-dead.

From Project Gutenberg