Quick Definition
βάσανος, ου, ἡ n.f. torture, torment
Strong's Definition
perhaps remotely from the same as 939 (through the notion of going to the bottom); a touch-stone, i.e. (by analogy) torture
KJV Usage: torment
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
βάσανος, -ov, 7, [Curtius p. 439]; a. the touchstone, [ealled also basanite, Lat. lapis Lydius], by which gold and other metals are tested. b. the rack or instrument of torture by which one is forced to divulge the truth. c. torture, torment, acute pains : used of the pains of disease, Mt. iv. 24; of the torments of the wicked after death, ἐν βασάνοις ὑπάρχειν, Lk. xvi. 23 (Sap. iii. 1; 4 Mace. xiii. 14); hence 6 τόπος τῆς βασάνου is used of Gehenna, Lk. xvi. 28. (In Grk. writ. fr. [Theogn.], Pind. down.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
βάσανος basanos 3x
pr. lapis Lydius, a species of stone from Lydia, which being applied to metals was thought to indicate any alloy which might be mixed with them, and therefore used in the trial of metals; hence, examination of a person, especially by torture; in NT torture, torment, severe pain, Mt. 4:24; Lk. 16:23, 28*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
βάσανος, -ου, ὁ (of Oriental origin),
[in LXX chiefly for כְּלִמָּה ,אָשָׁם, and freq. in IV Mac ;]
prop., touchstone, a dark stone used in testing metals.
examination by torture.
torment, torture: Mt 4:24, Lk 15:23, 28.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
βάσανος. The original sense of ‘‘ touchstone,” ‘* test,” appears in P Oxy I. 58” (a.p. 288), where provision is made that only such persons are appointed to certain offices as are in a position to stand the test—ot καὶ βασάνοις ὑποκείσονται. In P Leid Wv8-%6f (ii/iii A.p.) λέγε: KAOte μοι, 6 χρηστὸς ἐν βαζάνοις, βοήθησον ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐλεήμων ἐν ὥραις βιαίος (1.6. -αις), πολοὶ (2. ¢. -ὺ) δυνάμενος ἐν κόσμῳ, ὁ κτίσας τὴν ἀναγκὴ (καὶ) τιμωρίαν, καὶ τὴν βάσανον, Leemans renders exploratio. the palace of the satrap Saitaphernes. For the derived sense, reference may be made |
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
βάσανος (basanos) — torment. βᾰσᾰν-ος, ἡ, touchstone, on which pure gold leaves a yellow streak, ἐς βάσανον δ᾽ ἐλθὼν παρατρίβομαι ὥστε μολύβδῳ χρυσός [Refs 6th c.BC+]
II. the use of this as a test, χρυσὸς ἐν β. πρέπει [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, test, trial of genuineness, οὐκ ἔστιν μείζων β. χρόνου [[Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰς β. εἶ χερῶν wilt come to a trial of strength, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; [νόσου] ἔσχ᾽ ἐπὶ σοὶ βάσανον had experienced it in you, i. e. you had had it first, [Refs]; βάσανον ὑποκείσονται will be subjected to a test, of candidates, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
III. inquiry by torture, ἐς πᾶσαν β. ἀπικνέεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially at Athens, used to extort evidence from slaves, εἰς β. δέχεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in plural, confession upon torture, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III.2. agony of battle, ἡ κατὰ τὸ ἔργον β. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; tortures of disease, [NT+2nd c.AD+]; torments of hell,[NT]
III.3. trespass-offering, [LXX]