切きり苛さいなむ

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.

• 彼かれは罪ざい悪あく感かんにきりさいなまれた。

  He was tormented by guilt.

• 小しょう説せつの中なかで、主しゅ人じん公こうは孤こ独どくにきりさいなまれている。

  In the novel, the protagonist is tormented by loneliness.