Kersten was Right!

tor⋅tur⋅ous 
 /ˈtɔrtʃərəs/ [tawr-cher-uhs]
pertaining to, involving, or causing torture or suffering.
Origin: 1490–1500; < style="FONT-VARIANT: small-caps" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=torture&db=luna">torture, -ous



tor⋅tu⋅ous 

 /ˈtɔrtʃuəs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [tawr-choo-uhs] Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1.
full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked: a tortuous path.
2.
not direct or straightforward, as in procedure or speech; intricate; circuitous: tortuous negotiations lasting for months.
3.
deceitfully indirect or morally crooked, as proceedings, methods, or policy; devious.