anguish
UK[ˈæŋɡwɪʃ]US[ˈæŋɡwɪʃ]
n
severe mental or physical pain or suffering.
v
to cause or suffer severe pain or distress.
Etymology
the word 'anguish' originates from the latin 'angustia', meaning 'tightness, distress', itself derived from 'angere', 'to squeeze, strangle'. this root conveys a powerful physical metaphor for mental suffering, the sensation of being constricted or choked by grief or pain. it passed into old french as 'angoisse' with a similar sense of acute distress. entering middle english in the 13th century, the word retained this core meaning of intense, often anxiety-ridden suffering, perfectly capturing the feeling of being gripped by emotional or physical torment.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form. it is derived from the latin verb 'angere', meaning 'to strangle, cause distress', which is related to the greek 'ankhone' (a strangling) and the latin 'angustus' (narrow, tight). the modern english form entered the language via old french 'angoisse'.
Examples
she cried out in anguish when she heard the tragic news.
the moral anguish of his decision kept him awake at night.
they anguished over the difficult choice for weeks.