I.v. infra no. 1. A. 2.), 2, v. a. and n.
I. Act., to turn or bend aside, to turn off, turn away (class.).
A. In gen.
1. Lit.: “ponticulum,” Cic. Tusc. 5, 20, 59: “cornua (antennarum),” Verg. A. 5, 832: “habenas,” id. ib. 11, 765: “lumen ab illā,” Ov. M. 6, 515 et saep.—Poet.: “vulnus,” Verg. A. 9, 746.—
b. With in or ad and acc., to turn in any direction, to direct towards: “(orbis partem) a latere in dextram partem,” Cic. Univ. 7 fin.; so, “caudam in dexterum, in laevum,” Plin. 8, 51, 77, § 207: “proram ad undas,” Verg. A. 5, 165: “cursus ad regem,” id. ib. 4, 196: “cervicem ad oscula,” Hor. Od. 2, 12, 25 et saep.—
2. Trop.: “voluptates animos a virtute,” Cic. Off. 2, 10, 37: “quae (sc. voluntas testium) nullo negotio flecti ac detorqueri potest,” id. Cael. 9 fin.; id. de Or. 1, 17.—Of etymolog. derivation: Marrucini vocantur, de Marso detorsum nomen, Cato ap. Prisc. p. 871 P.; so, “parce detorta,” Hor. A. P. 53.—With indication of the term. ad quem: “aliquem ad segnitiem luxumque,” Plin. Pan. 82, 6: “vividum animum in alia,” Tac. A. 13, 3; cf.: “te pravum alio (i. e. ad aliud vitium),” Hor. S. 2, 2, 55.—
B. In partic., to turn or twist out of shape, to distort.
1. Lit.: “partes corporis detortae,” Cic. Tusc. 3, 5, 17: “Vatinius corpore detorto,” Tac. A. 15, 34.—
2. Trop., to distort, misrepresent: “calumniando omnia detorquendoque suspecta efficere,” Liv. 42, 42; cf.: “recte facta (with carpere),” Plin. Ep. 1, 8, 6: “sincera rectaque ingenia,” id. Pan. 70, 5; cf. Tac. Or. 28 fin.: “verbum aliquod in pejus,” Sen. Ep. 13 med.; cf.: “verba, voltus in crimen,” Tac. A. 1, 7: “sermonem in obscenum intellectum,” Quint. 8, 3, 44.— *
II. Neutr., to turn or go in any direction: “in laevam,” Plin. 28, 8, 27, § 93.