/payn/ , n.
1. physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.
2. a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body: a back pain.
3. mental or emotional suffering or torment: I am sorry my news causes you such pain.
4. pains ,
a. laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care: Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.
b. the suffering of childbirth.
5. Informal. an annoying or troublesome person or thing.
6. feel no pain , Informal. to be intoxicated: After all that free beer, we were feeling no pain.
7. on, upon , or under pain of , liable to the penalty of: on pain of death.
8. pain in the ass , Slang ( vulgar ). pain (def. 5).
9. pain in the neck , Informal. pain (def. 5).
v.t.
10. to cause physical pain to; hurt.
11. to cause (someone) mental or emotional pain; distress: Your sarcasm pained me.
v.i.
12. to have or give pain.
[ 1250-1300; ME peine punishment, torture, pain poena penalty, pain poiné penalty ]
Syn. 1-3. torture, misery, torment. PAIN, ACHE, AGONY, ANGUISH are terms for sensations causing suffering or torment. PAIN and ACHE usually refer to physical sensations (except heartache ); AGONY and ANGUISH may be physical or mental. PAIN suggests a sudden sharp twinge: a pain in one's ankle. ACHE applies to a continuous pain, whether acute or dull: headache; muscular aches. AGONY implies a continuous, excruciating, scarcely endurable pain: in agony from a wound. ANGUISH suggests not only extreme and long-continued pain, but also a feeling of despair. 2. pang, twinge, stitch. 4a . See care. 11. afflict, torment; trouble, grieve.
Ant. 3. joy, delight. 11. please.