tr.v., -at·ed, -at·ing, -ates.
- To inflict severe pain on; torture.
- To inflict great mental distress on.
[Latin excruciāre, excruciāt- : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex- + cruciāre, to crucify, torture (from crux, cruc-, cross).]
excruciation ex·cru'ci·a'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
