Lewis & Short

contortĭo, ōnis, f. [contorqueo].

  1. * I. A whirling round: dexterae, Auct. Her. 4, 19, 26 fin.
  2. II. An intertwining, involving; intricacy, complication; of discourse, in the plur.: contortiones orationis, * Cic. Fat. 9, 17; Aug. Retract. 1, 50.