Twinge

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /twɪnd͡ʒ/

Definitions

1. A sudden and sharp sensation of pain or discomfort can occur physically or emotionally, typically arising unexpectedly and often leaving a lasting impact
2. A brief and piercing sensation of discomfort may arise in the body or mind, often occurring unexpectedly and leaving a notable effect
3. A quick, sharp pain felt suddenly in the body ; a brief, sharp feeling of sadness or regret arising in the mind

Etymology: The verb "twinge" began as a plain physical action: to pinch, squeeze or tweak. Its Middle English form "twengen" to nip or tear at came from Old English "twenġan", which meant to pinch or squeeze. Behind that lies a Proto-Germanic verb meaning to press or squeeze, itself a causative form, which is a verb built to make something else squeeze. The word's deeper ancestry is uncertain, and some scholars have linked it to a Germanic word for a belt or strap and to the German "zwingen", meaning to force, though the Oxford English Dictionary finds no evidence for that connection. The noun was formed from the verb, so the sharp feeling in the body came first. The sense of a brief, sharp pang of sadness or regret arose later as a figurative extension, carrying the same quick squeeze into the mind. The result is a word that describes a sudden pressure in the flesh and then, with little change in its shape, a sudden pressure in the heart.

Synonyms: pang, spasm, twinge of pain, stitch, ache

Antonyms: comfort, ease, relief, calm, contentment