Part 3319

<syn>Syn. -- To twist; wrest; deform; pervert.</syn>

<h1>Distorter</h1> <Xpage=435>

<hw>Dis*tort"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who, or that which, distorts.</def>

<h1>Distortion</h1> <Xpage=435>

<hw>Dis*tor"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>distortio</ets>: cf. F. <ets>distortion</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of distorting, or twisting out of natural or regular shape; a twisting or writhing motion; <as>as, the <ex>distortions</ex> of the face or body</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A wresting from the true meaning.</def>

<i>Bp. Wren.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The state of being distorted, or twisted out of shape or out of true position; crookedness; perversion.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Med.)</fld> <def>An unnatural deviation of shape or position of any part of the body producing visible deformity.</def>

<h1>Distortive</h1> <Xpage=435>

<hw>Dis*tort"ive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Causing distortion.</def>

<h1>Distract</h1> <Xpage=435>

<hw>Dis*tract"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>distractus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>distrahere</ets> to draw asunder; <ets>dis-</ets> + <ets>trahere</ets> to draw. See <er>Trace</er>, and cf. <er>Distraught</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Separated; drawn asunder.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Insane; mad.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Drayton.</i>

<h1>Distract</h1> <Xpage=435>

<hw>Dis*tract"</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Distracted</er>, old <tt>p. p.</tt> <er>Distraught</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Distracting</er>.]</wordforms>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin.</def>

<blockquote>A city . . . <b>distracted</b> from itself. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different directions; to perplex; to confuse; <as>as, to <ex>distract</ex> the eye; to <ex>distract</ex> the attention.</as></def>

<blockquote>Mixed metaphors . . . <b>distract</b> the imagination. <i>Goldsmith.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of motives or of cares; to confound; to harass.</def>

<blockquote>Horror and doubt <b>distract</b> His troubled thoughts. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to madden; -- most frequently used in the participle, <i>distracted</i>.</def>

<blockquote>A poor mad soul; . . . poverty hath <b>distracted</b> her. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Distracted</h1> <Xpage=435>