godan verb (-mu), transitive verb
cut to pieces; torment
Rare literary verb. Literally means to cut something into small pieces, and figuratively to torment or afflict someone severely. The figurative sense is more common in modern usage.
彼は罪悪感にきりさいなまれた。
He was tormented by guilt.
小説の中で、主人公は孤
In the novel, the protagonist is tormented by loneliness.