distortion

[Lat. distortio, from distort us, pa. par. of distorqueo.] I. Literally : C. As subst.: The act of divesting of a title. "More ordinary imperfections and distortions of the body."-Wotton: Reliquiæ Wotton ., p. 79. chin, bench; go, gem; thin, this; IMG:content-0224.png:[blocks in formation] Anat.: A name given to one of the zygomatic muscles, which distorts the mouth in rage, grinning, . *dis-tour-ble, *des-tro-ble, *dis-tro-ble, *distur-ble, *dis-turb-el-yn, v. t. [O. Fr. des=Lat. dis -away, apart, and tourbler , turbler =to disturb, from Lat. turbula , dim. of turba =a crowd.] To disturb, to throw into disorder or confusion, to confound. "I am ryght sory yif I have oughte Distroubled yow out of your thoughte." Chaucer: Book of the Duche , 522. dis-tract, v . t . & i. [Fr. distraire ; Sp. distraer ; Port. distrahir ; Ital. distraere .] [DISTRACT, a.] A. Transitive: I. Literally: *1. To draw or pull in different directions. "The needle endeavors to conform unto the meridian; but being distracted , ariveth that way where the greater and power fuller part of the earth is placed."-Browne: Vulgar Errors. *2. To divide, to separate, to break up into parts. "Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-marked footmen." Shakesp.: Antony and Cleopatra , iii. 7. 3. To turn or draw from one point; to divert from one subject to a number of others. "If he cannot wholly avoid the eye of the observer, he hopes to distract it by a multiplicity of the object." South . II. Figuratively : 1. To fill with contrary considerations; to perplex, to hara , or to disturb with a multiplicity of cares or thoughts. "An infant daughter late my griefs increased, And all a mother's cares distract my breast." Pope: Sappho to Phaon, 77, 78. 2. To disturb the peace of by internal di ensions; to tear asunder. "The Anglican Church was, at this time, not le distracted than the Gallican Church."- Macaulay : Hist. Eng., ch. xiv. 3. To disturb or disorder the reason or intellect; to derange, to put beside one's self. "This news distracts me." Shakesp.: Merry Wives , ii. 2. IMG:content-0225.png:[blocks in formation] 2. Fig .: Distracted in mind. "The fellow is distract , and so am I." Shakesp.: Comedy of Errors , iv. 8. dis-tract-ěd, pa . par . & a. [DISTRACT, ν.] A. As pa . par .: (See the verb.) B. As adjective: *1. Lit .: Divided, separated, disjoined. "But to the brightest beams Distracted clouds give way: so stand thou forth, The time is fair again." Shakesp.: All's Well that Ends Well, v. iii. 2. Fig .: Disturbed or disordered mentally; per plexed, confounded, hara ed. "One tender friend of my distracted mind." Pope : Homer's Iliad , xix. 304. dis-tract-ěd-lý, adv . [Eng. distracted ; -ly.] 1. Dis jointly; by fits and starts. "For she did speak in starts distractedly ." Shakesp.: Twelfth Night , ii. 2. Madly, franticly; like one distracted. "Distractedly she did her hands extend." Drayton: Barons' Wars, bk. ii. dis-tract-ěd-ne , s. [Eng. distracted ; -ne .] The quality or state of being distracted; distraction. "The present distractedne of my mind." -Boyle: Works, i. 41. sin, as; expect, Xenophon, exist. ph = f. distracter