n.
Pronunciation: ' p ā n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French peine, from Latin poena, from Greek poin ē payment, penalty; akin to Greek tinein to pay, tinesthai to punish, Avestan ka ē n ā revenge, Sanskrit cayate he revenges
Date: 14th century
1 : PUNISHMENT
2 a : usu. localized physical suffering associated with bodily disorder (as a disease or an injury) also : a basic bodily sensation induced by a noxious stimulus, received by naked nerve endings, characterized by physical discomfort (as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and typically leading to evasive action b : acute mental or emotional distress or suffering : GRIEF
3 plural : the throes of childbirth
4 plural : trouble, care, or effort taken to accomplish something <was at pain s to reassure us>
5 : one that irks or annoys or is otherwise troublesome ― often used in such phrases as pain in the neck
– pain · less \ -l ə s \ adjective
– pain · less · ly adverb
– pain · less · ness noun
– on pain of or under pain of : subject to penalty or punishment of <made to leave the country on pain of death>