foltern

== German == === Etymology === From Late Middle High German foltern. Equivalent to Folter +‎ -en. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈfɔltərn/, [ˈfɔl.tɐn] === Verb === foltern (weak, third-person singular present foltert, past tense folterte, past participle gefoltert, auxiliary haben) to torture (subject to cruel treatment) ==== Usage notes ==== The word usually refers to torture in the strict sense (that is a method of interrogation or punishment). Otherwise one uses quälen; for example Tiere quälen (“to torture animals”). Figurative use of foltern is possible of course, but it has an even stronger tone than the English verb. ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Related terms ==== Folter === Further reading === “foltern” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache “foltern” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon “foltern” in Duden online “foltern” in OpenThesaurus.de