βασανισταῖς [1 verse](noun pl masc dat) "Tormentors" is from basanistes, which means "examiner," "questioner," "torturer," "jailer," and "one who tests."  - The word translated as "tormentors" means "examiners," "testers," or "questioners" but the idea was the questioning was done using various motivating techniques to get people to talk.