Groaning

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹoʊnɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Producing a low, guttural sound to show pain or sorrow ; emitting a deep noise caused by physical pressure or strain ; voicing dissatisfaction or annoyance usually softly
2. Allowing a strained or moaning sound that signifies suffering or sadness ; generating a creaking or deep sound under weight or stress ; murmuring complaints or uneasy protest
3. Sounding a heavy or mournful noise indicative of hurt or hardship ; giving out a dull or prolonged noise because of tension or burden ; uttering expressions of grievance or displeasure

Etymology: The verb "groan" is one of those words whose sound has barely changed in centuries, yet its ancestor in Old English was "grānian," which meant exactly what it does now: to make a low, sorrowful cry. The noun "groaning" grew out of that same stem, and it reached Middle English as "gronynge," formed by attaching the suffix "-ing" to the older noun "grānung." The form we use today is a blend. Middle English also had "gronende," the present participle of the verb "gronen," which descended from the Old English participle "grāniende." Over time these two routes merged, so the modern word carries traces of both a noun-forming ending and a participle ending, even though the two came from separate paths.

Synonyms: moaning, grumbling, complaining

Antonyms: cheering, rejoicing