a. [ L. distortus, p. p. of distorquere to twist, distort; dis- + torquere to twist. See Torsion. ] Distorted; misshapen. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Her face was ugly and her mouth distort. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Distorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Distorting. ] 1. To twist of natural or regular shape; to twist aside physically; as, to distort the limbs, or the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose face was distorted with pain. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To force or put out of the true posture or direction; to twist aside mentally or morally. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and distort the understandings of men. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To wrest from the true meaning; to pervert; as, to distort passages of Scripture, or their meaning.

Syn. -- To twist; wrest; deform; pervert. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, distorts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. distortio: cf. F. distortion. ] 1. The act of distorting, or twisting out of natural or regular shape; a twisting or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face or body. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A wresting from the true meaning. Bp. Wren. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of being distorted, or twisted out of shape or out of true position; crookedness; perversion. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) An unnatural deviation of shape or position of any part of the body producing visible deformity. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Causing distortion. [ 1913 Webster ]