Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DIS-TORT', v.t. [L. distortus, distorqueo; dis and torqueo, to twist, Fr. tordre, Sp. torcer.]

1. To twist out of natural or regular shape; as, to distort the neck, the limbs, or the body; to distort the features.
2. To force or put out of the true posture or direction. Wrath and malice, envy and revenge distort the understanding. – Tillotson.
3. To wrest from the true meaning; to pervert; as, to distort passages of Scripture, or their meaning.