Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

torse

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.07 in modern English

Syllables: torse
IPA

5

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A twist of cloth or wreath, typically placed underneath and forming part of a crest (as an orle or wreath) and customarily shown with six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on; rarely, it occurs as a charge.

noun

The torso.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"To Painters, for the picturing of ſome exquiſit arme, leg, torſe or wreathing of the body, or any other rare poſture, whether ſmooth or forced."
"One might ſtudy in this city for ages, and ſtill find ſomething new: we went from this to view the cardinal’s ſtatues, which are really very fine; there were three ſpintria executed in a very maſterly manner, all arm in arm: the torſe which I heard you talk ſo much of, is at laſt diſcovered to be a Hercules ſpinning, and not a Cleopatra bathing, as your lordſhip had conjectured: there has been a treatiſe written to prove it."
"This done, ’twas only needed to supply / The necessary quantity of heads / To suit the growing torse; […]"

Etymology

From Middle French torse (“wreath”), from Latin torqueō (“to twist”). Doublet of trousse and truss.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: *terkʷ-, torse, torqueō, torso, thyrsus

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

torses (plural)

Derived Forms

torsed

Frequently Paired Words

torsion

Synonyms

orle wreath

Rhymes With

course force source horse resource divorce enforce workforce discourse reinforce endorse intercourse

Questions

What does torse mean?: A twist of cloth or wreath, typically placed underneath and forming part of a crest (as an orle or wreath) and customarily shown with six twists, the first tincture being the tincture of the field, the second the tincture of the metal, and so on; rarely, it occurs as a charge.
Where does torse come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce torse

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