anguish
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.extreme pain or suffering, especially in your mind.
n.extreme mental or physical pain; excruciating distress or suffering.
Simple“He felt deep anguish when he realized he had lost his wedding ring.”
In context“The families of the victims waited in silent anguish for news regarding the rescue operation's progress.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun to describe a general state of suffering.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
v.to feel extreme pain or worry about something.
v.to suffer extreme pain or distress; to be extremely distressed about a situation.
Simple“She anguished over the decision for weeks before finally choosing a career path.”
In context“The committee anguished over the ethical implications of the new policy before reaching a final consensus.”
UsageCommonly used with the preposition 'over'.
“There is no dramatic farewell; instead, the moment is marked by Singer’s silent anguish.”
“Photograph: Charlotte Caldwell It is an upbeat outcome to a story that for many years was marked by anguish.”
From Middle English angwissh, anguishe, angoise, from Anglo-Norman anguise, anguisse, from Old French angoisse, from Latin angustia (“narrowness, scarcity, difficulty, distress”), from angustus (“narrow, difficult”), from angere (“to press together, cause pain, distress”). See angst, the Germanic cognate, and anger.
From Middle English angwischen, anguis(s)en, from Old French angoissier, anguissier, from the noun (see Etymology 1).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.