groan

Meanings

Noun

• A low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief.
• A low, guttural sound uttered in frustration, disapproval, or ecstasy.
• Of an object: a low creaking sound from applied pressure or weight.

Verb

• To make a groan.
• To strive after earnestly, as if with groans.

Origin

• From Middle English gronen, from Old English grānian, from Proto-West Germanic *grīnan, from Proto-Germanic *grainōną, from Proto-Germanic *grīnaną.
• Cognate with Dutch grijnen, grienen, German Low German grienen, German greinen, Swedish grina.
• The noun is from Middle English gron, grone, from the verb.