βασανίζω

A. ‐ιῶ Ar. Ra. 802, 1121, Ec. 748: aor. ἐβασάνισα, subj. βασανίσω v.l. in Id. Ra. 618 cod. R:—Pass., aor. ἐβασανίσθην: pf. βεβασάνισμαι:—rub upon the touch-stone (βάσανος), χρυσόν Pl. Grg. 486d: hence, put to the test, prove, Arist. GA 747a3 (Pass.), etc.; investigate scientifically, Hp. Aër. 3; of the instances used in inductive inference, ἀπὸ τῶν πανταχόθεν βεβασανισμένων [μεταβαίνομεν] Phld. Sign. 29.

II. of persons, examine closely, cross-question, Hdt. 1.116, 2.151, Ar. Ach. 110, Ra. 802, etc.; βεβασανισμένος εἰς δικαιοσύνην having his love of justice put to the test, Pl. R. 361c, cf. 413e, Smp. 184a; ὑπὸ δακρύων βασανίζεσθαι, i.e. to be convicted of being painted by tears (washing off the cosmetic), X. Oec. 10.8.

2. question by applying torture, torture, rack (v. βάσανοςIII), Ar. Ra. 616,618; [δούλους] πάντας παραδίδωμι βασανίσαι Antipho 2.4.8, cf. 5.36:—Pass., to be put to the torture, Th. 7.86, Lys. 4.14, Arist. Rh.Al. 1443b31; αἰωνίοις ἀμοιβαῖς βασανισθησόμενοι πρὸς τῶν θεῶν Phld. D. 1.19; to be tortured by disease (censured by Luc. Sol. 6), Ev.Matt. 8.6; ὑπὸ τῶν κυμάτων ib.14.24; of animals, Philostr. VA 1.38: metaph. of the earth, ib.6.10.

3. metaph. of style, strain, Longin. 10.6; βεβασανισμένος forced, unnatural, D.H. Th. 55.