tribulation

[ trib-yuh-ley-shuhn ]
/ ˌtrɪb yəˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering.
an instance of this; an affliction, trouble, etc.

Origin of tribulation

1175–1225; Middle English < Latin trībulātiōn- (stem of trībulātiō) distress, trouble, equivalent to trībulāt(us) (past participle of trībulāre to press, squeeze, derivative of trībulum threshing sledge, equivalent to trī-, variant stem of terere to rub, crush + -bulum noun suffix of instrument) + -iōn- -ion

Example sentences from the Web for tribulation

British Dictionary definitions for tribulation

tribulation
/ (ˌtrɪbjʊˈleɪʃən) /

noun

a cause of distress
a state of suffering or distress

Word Origin for tribulation

C13: from Old French, from Church Latin trībulātiō, from Latin trībulāre to afflict, from trībulum a threshing board, from terere to rub