Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TOR'RENT, n. [L. torrens. This is the participle of torreo, to parch. But the sense of the word torrent, allies it to the W. tori, to break, and the Eng. tear. They are all of one family, denoting violent action.]

1. A violent rushing stream of water or other fluid; a stream suddenly raised and running rapidly, as down a precipice; as, a torrent of lava.
2. A violent or rapid stream; a strong current; as, a torrent of vices and follies; a torrent of corruption. Erasmus, that great injur'd name, / Stemm'd the wild torrent of a barb'rous age. Pope.