Lexicon
basanos: a touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals), hence examination by torture, torture
Original Word: βάσανος, ου, ἡPart of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: basanos
Phonetic Spelling: (bas'-an-os)
Short Definition: torture, torment
Definition: torture, torment, examination by torture.
HELPS word-Studies
Cognate: 931 básanos – originally, a black, silicon-based stone used as "a touchstone" to test the purity of precious metals (like silver and gold). See 928 (basanízō).
[In the papyri, basanos also means, "touchstone," "test" (so P Oxy I. 58.25, ad 288).
931 (basanois) was "originally (from oriental origin) a touchstone; a 'Lydian stone' used for testing gold because pure gold rubbed on it left a peculiar mark. Then it was used for examination by torture. Sickness was often regarded as 'torture' " (WP, 1, 37).]
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originof Oriental origin
Definitiona touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals), hence examination by torture, torture
NASB Translationpains (1), torment (2).