dē-torquĕo, si, tum (detorsum, v. infra no. 1. A. 2.), 2, v. a. and n.
I Act., to turn or bend aside, to turn off, turn away (class.).
A In gen.
1 Lit.: ponticulum, Cic. Tusc. 5, 20, 59: cornua (antennarum), Verg. A. 5, 832: habenas, id. ib. 11, 765: lumen ab illā, Ov. M. 6, 515 et saep.—Poet.: vulnus, Verg. A. 9, 746.—
b With in or ad and acc., to turn in any direction, to direct towards : (orbis partem) a latere in dextram partem, Cic. Univ. 7 fin. ; so, caudam in dexterum, in laevum, Plin. 8, 51, 77, § 207: proram ad undas, Verg. A. 5, 165: cursus ad regem, id. ib. 4, 196: cervicem ad oscula, Hor. Od. 2, 12, 25 et saep.—
2 Trop.: voluptates animos a virtute, Cic. Off. 2, 10, 37: quae (sc. voluntas testium) nullo negotio flecti ac detorqueri potest, id. Cael. 9 fin. ; id. de Or. 1, 17.—Of etymolog. derivation: Marrucini vocantur, de Marso detorsum nomen, Cato ap. Prisc. p. 871 P.; so, parce detorta, Hor. A. P. 53.—With indication of the term. ad quem: aliquem ad segnitiem luxumque, Plin. Pan. 82, 6: vividum animum in alia, Tac. A. 13, 3; cf.: te pravum alio (i. e. ad aliud vitium), Hor. S. 2, 2, 55.—
B In partic., to turn or twist out of shape, to distort .
1 Lit.: partes corporis detortae, Cic. Tusc. 3, 5, 17: Vatinius corpore detorto, Tac. A. 15, 34.—
2 Trop., to distort, misrepresent : calumniando omnia detorquendoque suspecta efficere, Liv. 42, 42; cf.: recte facta (with carpere), Plin. Ep. 1, 8, 6: sincera rectaque ingenia, id. Pan. 70, 5; cf. Tac. Or. 28 fin. : verbum aliquod in pejus, Sen. Ep. 13 med. ; cf.: verba, voltus in crimen, Tac. A. 1, 7: sermonem in obscenum intellectum, Quint. 8, 3, 44.— *
II Neutr., to turn or go in any direction: in laevam, Plin. 28, 8, 27, § 93.