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

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, “Οι Μοιραίοι [Oi Moiraíoi, Those Resigned To Fate]”, Kostas Varnalis (lyrics), Mikis Theodorakis (music), 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.

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

• (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)

Related terms

• 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”)

Noun

βάσανο • (vásano) f

1. Accusative singular form of βάσανος (vásanos).