anguish

[ ang-gwish ]
/ ˈæŋ gwɪʃ /

noun

excruciating or acute distress, suffering, or pain: the anguish of grief.

verb (used with object)

to inflict with distress, suffering, or pain.

verb (used without object)

to suffer, feel, or exhibit anguish: to anguish over the loss of a loved one.

Origin of anguish

1175–1225; Middle English anguisse < Old French < Latin angustia tight place, equivalent to angust(us) narrow + -ia -ia; cf. anxious; akin to anger

synonym study for anguish

1. See pain.

Example sentences from the Web for anguish

British Dictionary definitions for anguish

anguish
/ (ˈæŋɡwɪʃ) /

noun

extreme pain or misery; mental or physical torture; agony

verb

to afflict or be afflicted with anguish

Word Origin for anguish

C13: from Old French angoisse a strangling, from Latin angustia narrowness, from angustus narrow