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n. 1. a. An unpleasant feeling occurring as a result of injury or disease, usually localized in some part of the body: felt pains in his chest. b. Bodily suffering characterized by such feelings: drugs to treat pain. 2. a. Mental or emotional suffering; distress. b. An instance of this: the pains of humiliation. 3. pains The pangs of childbirth. 4. pains Great care or effort: taking pains with one's work. 5. Informal A source of annoyance; a nuisance: Stuffing all these envelopes is a real pain. tr.v. pained, pain·ing, pains Idiom: 1. To cause physical pain to; hurt: My feet really pained me after the hike. 2. To cause mental or emotional distress to: "It pained him to remember every little thing about her" (John Irving). on/under pain of Subject to the penalty of (a specified punishment, such as death). [Middle English, from Old French peine, from Latin poena, penalty, pain, from Greek poinē, penalty; see kwei-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] Synonyms: pain, ache, pang, stitch, throe, twinge These nouns denote a sensation of severe physical discomfort: abdominal pain; aches in my leg; the pangs of a cramped muscle; a stitch in my side; the throes of dying; a twinge of arthritis. |
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