I. ˈāk verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by ache ) (II) of Middle English aken to ache, from Old English acan; akin to Low German äken to hurt, fester, Middle Dutch ākel pain, damage, and perhaps to Greek agos sin, guilt, Sanskrit āgas
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to suffer a usually dull persistent and sometimes throbbing pain
his muscles ached from chopping wood
aching with fatigue
b. : to become distressed as if with dull persistent pain
ache with the deep sadness of it all — H.A.Overstreet
: become disturbed (as with anxiety, remorse, or regret)
ache at the very thought of what may happen
c. : to feel compassion : become moved with pity, sympathy, or grief
her heart ached for the homeless children
2. : to become filled with persistent desire that is dully painful in intensity
his heart ached for her love
: desire very strongly : yearn
aching to see you again
3. : to move with dully painful effort : strain
eyes ached along the shining rails so as surely not to miss the … flash of speed — Harriet B. Barbour
transitive verb
archaic : to cause to ache
snowflakes aching my eyes — P.D.Boles
II. ˈāk; in early Modern Eng the -che was prond -ch noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English æce, ece, from acan to ache
: a usually dull persistent and sometimes throbbing pain
his loathing of the room became a dull ache in his brain — Morley Callaghan
: a condition marked by aching
an ache in his heart like the farewell to a dear woman — John Steinbeck
Synonyms: see pain
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin apium celery — more at apium
obsolete : any of several umbelliferous plants (as wild celery or parsley)