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   ache

   /āk/

   noun

   • 1. a continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body: "the ache in her head worsened" Similar paindull painpangtwingethrobgnawingstabbingstingstingingspasmmuscular spasmcrampconvulsionsmartingsorenesstendernessirritationdiscomfort
   • ▪ an emotion experienced with painful or bittersweet intensity: "an ache in her heart" Similar sorrowsadnessmiserygriefanguishsufferingpainagonytorturewretchednessdistresshurtafflictionwoemourninglongingyearningcravingdesirepininghankeringhungerhungeringthirstitchburninginformal:yenOpposite joydisinclination

   verb

   • 1. suffer from a continuous dull pain: "my legs ached from the previous day's exercise" Similar hurtbe sorebe painfulbe in painthrobpoundtwingesmartgnawburntinglestingbe uncomfortablebe tendergive someone troubleinformal:play upgive someone gyp
   • ▪ feel intense sadness or compassion: "she sat still and silent, her heart aching" Similar grievesorrowbe sorrowfulbe sadbe distressedbe in distressbe miserablemournbe mournfullamentagonizeanguishbe in anguishsufferbleedeat one's heart outweep and wailOpposite rejoice
   • ▪ feel an intense desire for: "she ached for his touch" Similar long foryearn forhunger forthirst forhanker forhanker afterpine forpine afteritch forbe desperate forbe unable to wait forcravedesirecovetinformal:have a yen foryen forbe dying forarchaic:be athirst forsuspire for

   Word Origin Old Englishæce (noun), acan (verb). In Middle English and early modern English the noun was spelled atche and rhymed with ‘batch’ and the verb was spelled and pronounced as it is today. The noun began to be pronounced like the verb around 1700. The modern spelling is largely due to Dr Johnson, who mistakenly assumed its derivation to be from Greek akhos ‘pain’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • H

     4

   • E

     1

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