Both Uses of
contort
in
Jane Eyre
- I saw a grim smile contort Mr. Rochester's lips, and he muttered "No, by God!†
p. 336.3contort = twist or bend to an unnatural shape
- I took hold of his clenched hand, loosened the contorted fingers, and said to him, soothingly "Sit down; I'll talk to you as long as you like, and hear all you have to say, whether reasonable or unreasonable."†
p. 349.4 *contorted = twisted
Definition:
twist or bend to an unnatural shape -- something such as the human body, a facial expression, or the truth