n.
- a strongly unpleasant bodily sensation such as is caused by illness or injury.
- mental suffering or distress.
-
(also pain in the neck or vulgar slang arse)
informal an annoying or tedious person or thing.
-
(pains)
careful effort.
v.
cause mental or physical pain to.
▸chiefly N. Amer. (of a part of the body) hurt.
Phrase
- on
(or under)
pain of
on penalty of.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. peine, from L. poena ‘penalty’, later ‘pain’.