βάσανο

Greek

Etymology

From Byzantine Greek βάσανον (básanon), from Ancient Greek βάσανος (básanos, examination, inquiry, investigation); modern sense developed from the association of investigations and inquisitions of prisoners with physical tortures.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈvasano/
  • Hyphenation: βά‧σα‧νο

Noun 1

βάσανο (vásano) n (plural βάσανα)

  1. torture, torment, anguish, suffering (extreme mental or emotional pain)
    Το μεγαλύτερο βάσανό του ήταν ο θάνατος της κόρης του.To megalýtero vásanó tou ítan o thánatos tis kóris tou.His biggest torment was the death of his daughter.
    • 1965, Kostas Varnalis/Mikis Theodorakis, Οι Μοιραίοι:
      Ω! πόσο βάσανο μεγάλο,
      το βάσανο είναι της ζωής!
      Oh! What a great torture,
      The torture is life!
  2. (colloquial, slang, humorous) ball and chain, trouble and strife, lord and master (one's own partner or spouse)
    Θα βγω απόψε με το βάσανό μου.Tha vgo apópse me to vásanó mou.I'll go out tonight with the old ball and chain.

Usage notes

This noun is only for figurative senses of torture. Literal physical torture, for example as a lawful process, is usually denoted by βασανιστήριο (vasanistírio).

Declension

Synonyms

Noun 2

βάσανο (vásano) f

  1. Accusative singular form of βάσανος (vásanos).
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