βάσανο

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.

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

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.

   • 1964, Kostas Varnalis (lyrics), Mikis Theodorakis (music), “Οι Μοιραίοι [Those Resigned To Fate]”, performed by Grigoris Bithikotsis:

     Ω! πόσο βάσανο μεγάλο,
     Το βάσανο είναι της ζωής!

     O! póso vásano megálo,
     To vásano eínai tis zoḯs!

     Oh! What a great torment,
     The torment 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.

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

• βασανίζω (vasanízo, “to torture”)
• βασανιστής n (vasanistís, “torturer, tormentor”)
• βασανίστρια f (vasanístria, “tormentor”)
• βασανιστικός (vasanistikós, “brutal, agonising”)
• βασανιστήριο n (vasanistírio, “torture”)
• βάσανος f (vásanos, “examination, investigation”)

• (torment, suffering): ταλαιπωρία f (talaiporía), αγωνία f (agonía)
• (ball and chain, partner, spouse): αγαπητικός m (agapitikós), αγαπητικιά f (agapitikiá), ερωμένος m (eroménos), ερωμένη f (eroméni)

βάσανο • (vásano) f

1. Accusative singular form of βάσανος (vásanos).