peɪn n. & v. --n. 1 a
the range of
unpleasant bodily sensations produced by
illness or by
harmful physical contact etc. b a
particular kind or
instance of
this (often in
pl.: suffering
from stomach pains). 2
mental suffering or
distress. 3 (in pl.)
careful effort;
trouble taken (take pains;
got nothing for my pains). 4 (also pain in the neck) colloq. a
troublesome person or
thing; a
nuisance. --v.tr. 1
cause pain
to. 2 (as pained adj.) expressing pain (a pained expression). øin pain suffering pain. on (or under) pain of
with (death etc.) as the
penalty. [ME f. OF peine f. L poena penalty]