tormentor

or tor·ment·er

[ tawr-men-ter, tawr-men- ]

noun

1. a person or thing that torments.
2. Theater. a curtain or framed structure behind the proscenium at both sides of the stage, for screening the wings from the audience. Compare teaser ( def 5 ).

tormentor

/ tɔːˈmɛntə /

noun

1. a person or thing that torments
2. a curtain or movable piece of stage scenery at either side of the proscenium arch, used to mask lights or exits and entrances
3. films a panel of sound-insulating material placed outside the field of the camera to control the acoustics on the sound stage

Word History and Origins

Origin of tormentor¹

1250–1300; Middle English tormento ( u ) r < Anglo-French; Old French tormenteor. See torment, -or ²

Example Sentences

"I'm not a victim of racism. I'm the tormentor of racists," the 24-year-old posted on social media afterwards.

From BBC

With just over 70 days until the election, the Democrats are swiping their tormentors' laugh-at-'em tactics to corner the attention economy.

From Salon

For now, though, all this means many Tories zoom from gloom to doom, their grinning tormentor showing them no mercy this time.

From BBC

The scene is redemptive — the resisters have escaped their tormentors, and can feed themselves — but, as with Jesus’ last meal, disaster lurks.

From New York Times

But you say, he's important because he’s his redemption and also his tormentor.

From Salon

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