throe

[ throh ]
See synonyms for: throethroes on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a violent spasm or pang; paroxysm.

  2. a sharp attack of emotion.

  1. throes,

    • any violent convulsion or struggle: the throes of battle.

    • the agony of death.

    • the pains of childbirth.

Origin of throe

1
1150–1200; Middle English throwe, alteration of thrawe (-o- from Old English thrōwian to suffer, be in pain), Old English thrawu; cognate with Old Norse thrā (in līkthrā leprosy)

Other words for throe

Words that may be confused with throe

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use throe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for throe

throe

/ (θrəʊ) /


noun
  1. rare a pang or pain

Origin of throe

1
Old English thrāwu threat; related to Old High German drawa threat, Old Norse thrā desire, thrauka to endure

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with throe

throe

see in the throes.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.