Etymology
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contortion (n.)

early 15c., contorsioun, "act of twisting or wrenching," from Old French contorsion and directly from Latin contortionem (nominative contortio), noun of action from past-participle stem of contorquere (see contort). Meaning "a contorted state or form" is from 1660s.

Entries linking to contortion

contort (v.)

"to twist or wrench out of shape," early 15c. (implied in contorted), from Latin contortus, past participle of contorquere "to whirl, twist together," from assimilated form of com- "with, together," here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-) + torquere "to twist" (from PIE root *terkw- "to twist"). Related: Contorting.

contortionist (n.)

"one who practices gymnastic feats involving contorted or unnatural poses," 1841, from contortion + -ist.

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Definitions of contortion

contortion (n.)
the act of twisting or deforming the shape of something (e.g., yourself);
Synonyms: deformation
contortion (n.)
a tortuous and twisted shape or position;
the acrobat performed incredible contortions
Synonyms: tortuosity / tortuousness / torsion / crookedness
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near contortion

continue

continuity

continuous

continuum

contort

contortion

contortionist

contour

contra

Contra

contra-

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