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excruciate

[ik-skroo-shee-eyt]
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verb (used with object), ex·cru·ci·at·ed, ex·cru·ci·at·ing.
  1. to inflict severe pain upon; torture: The headache excruciated him.
  2. to cause mental anguish to; irritate greatly.
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Origin of excruciate

1560–70; < Latin excruciātus, past participle of excruciāre to torment, torture, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + cruciāre to torment, crucify (derivative of crux cross); see -ate1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for excruciate

Historical Examples

  • But I need not excruciate you any longer;—any commands for town?

    Kate Vernon, Vol. 1 (of 3)

    Mrs. Alexander

  • He will be vulgarly stuck up, and excruciate me with every French word he attempts to pronounce.

    Magnum Bonum

    Charlotte M. Yonge

British Dictionary definitions for excruciate

excruciate

verb (tr)
  1. to inflict mental suffering on; torment
  2. obsolete to inflict physical pain on; torture
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Derived Formsexcruciation, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin excruciāre, from cruciāre to crucify, from crux cross
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for excruciate

v.

1560s, from Latin excruciatus, past participle of excruciare "to torture, torment, rack, plague;" figuratively "to afflict, harass, vex, torment," from ex- "out, thoroughly" (see ex-) + cruciare "cause pain or anguish to," literally "crucify," from crux (genitive crucis) "cross."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper