Of language, texts, etc.: Destroyed in purity, debased; altered from the original or correct condition by ignorance, carelessness, additions…

That has been racked (in various senses); esp. tortured on the rack; tormented; strained to or beyond the limit.

figurative. Deflected or turned from the true meaning or natural application; strained, perverted.

figurative. With reference to the meaning of something: strained, distorted, or perverted; twisted. Obsolete.

With reference to the meaning of something: strained, distorted, or perverted. Cf. writhe, v. 9. Obsolete. rare.

In literary usage: Strained, distorted. Cf. force, v.1 3b.

Subjected or put to torture (literal and figurative); tormented; wrested, etc.: see the verb.

Of language, construction put upon words or actions, etc.: employed or interpreted in a laboured, far-fetched, or non-natural sense; wrested or…

figurative. Turned awry; twisted, wrested.

Imposed or exacted by force; enforced. Also: strained, distorted.

= crooked, adj.

Strained, forced. Obsolete.

figurative. Mediated; altered; distorted.

Wrested; perverted; distorted.

Made or become corrupt (in various senses); = corrupt, adj.

1760Not in accordance with the simple sense of a word; (in later use) (spec. of a meaning, interpretation, etc.) dependent on the existence of…