释义 |
throe I. \ˈthrō\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English throwe, alteration (influenced by throwen to suffer, from Old English thrōwian — akin to Old English thrāwu threat, pang) of thrawe, from Old English thrāwu, thrēa threat, punishment, pang; akin to Old High German drawa, drōa threat, Old Norse thrā pang, longing, Greek trauma wound, tryein to wear out, distress 1. a. throes plural : the physical struggle and anguish accompanying parturition : labor pains b. : the struggle and anguish immediately preceding death : a death struggle — usually used in plural c. : a sudden spasm or pang (as of pain or emotion) < forced from love's exultant throe — James McAuley > 2. throes plural : a condition of struggle, anguish, disorder, or confusion characteristic of a transitional period (as the active phase of creation of some new thing) < a state in the throes of revolution > < a college … in the throes of selecting a new president — W.S.Carlson > < air commerce is in the throes of an essential transition — Current Biography > Synonyms: see pain II. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) transitive verb obsolete : to put in agony : cause to suffer intransitive verb : to struggle in distress : be in agony |