supplice

torture, torment

noun su-PLEES Rare

Origin: Latin supplicium 'punishment, entreaty'

Usage Note

Supplice originally referred to a judicial execution or physical torture; today it is also used hyperbolically for any unbearable ordeal, as in le supplice de l'attente (the torment of waiting). The verb supplicier means to execute or torture.

Examples

"Ce bruit est un véritable supplice."

Natural Translation

This noise is a real torment.

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