Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-TOR'TION, n. [Fr. contorsion; L. contortio.]

1. A twisting; a writhing; a wresting; a twist; wry motion; as, the contortion of the muscles of the face. – Swift.
2. In medicine, a twisting or wresting of a limb or member of the body out of its natural situation; the iliac passion; partial dislocation; distorted spine; contracted neck. – Encyc. Coxe.