tormentor

noun

Etymology: From Anglo-Norman tourmentour, from Old French tormenteor.

1. One who torments; a person, animal, or object that causes suffering.

   “Before that estimable lady could recover herself, or offer the slightest retaliation, she was forced into a kneeling posture by a crowd of shouting tormentors, and compelled to swallow a spoonful of the odious mixture […]”

   “A girl of the village […] came and rang at my bell as soon as it was light […] perfectly maddened with an aching tooth. […] The poor thing begged me with tears in her eyes to take out her tormentor, if I dragged her head off.”

2. One who torments; a person, animal, or object that causes suffering.

   “And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.”

   “All the racks and dungeons of Rome, with their tormentors, could not terrify him.”

3. Something abstract that causes suffering.

   “These words hereafter thy tormentors be!”

   “Thoughts my Tormenters arm’d with deadly stings Mangle my apprehensive tenderest parts,”

4. One of a pair of narrow curtains just behind the front curtain and teaser that mask the areas on the sides of the stage and can be adjusted to the desired width.

   “Then Nathan Eldred, gently pushing, was muttering, ‘On you go, dear. Good luck!’ and she was edging between the tormentor and the backing flats, in front of the curtain, holding her small hands out to the sudden-silenced audience […]”

5. An implement for reducing a stiff soil, resembling a harrow, but running upon wheels.
6. A long meat-fork.

   “1813, Charles Stewart, enclosure in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, dated 18 October, 1813, in William S. Dudley (editor), The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History, Washington D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, 1992, Volume 2, p. 392, Cabin furniture received onboard the U.S.F. Constellation at Washington […] 1 Cleaver and tormentors/Cook; [footnote:] A tormentor is a long iron meat fork used by sea cooks.”