Dis*tort" (?), a. [L. distortus,
p. p. of distorquere to twist, distort; dis- +
torquere to twist. See Torsion.] Distorted;
misshapen. [Obs.]
Her face was ugly and her mouth
distort.
Spenser.
Dis*tort", 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.
Whose face was distorted with
pain.
Thackeray.
2. To force or put out of the true posture or
direction; to twist aside mentally or morally.
Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and
distort the understandings of men.
Tillotson.
3. To wrest from the true meaning; to
pervert; as, to distort passages of Scripture, or their
meaning.
Syn. -- To twist; wrest; deform; pervert.
