n. & v.
--n.
1. a the range of unpleasant bodily sensations produced by illness or by harmful physical contact etc. b a particular kind or instance of this (often in pl.: suffering from stomach pains).
2 mental suffering or distress.
3 (in pl.) careful effort; trouble taken (take pains; got nothing for my pains).
4 (also pain in the neck) colloq. a troublesome person or thing; a nuisance.
--v.tr.
1. cause pain to.
2 (as pained adj.) expressing pain (a pained expression).
Phrases and idioms:
in pain suffering pain. on (or under) pain of with (death etc.) as the penalty.
Etymology: ME f. OF peine f. L poena penalty