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Where does the word "anguish" come from? It comes from Latin angustia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "anguish" come from? It comes from Latin angustia, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Anguish’s story begins in Latin: angustia meant “tightness, distress.” From 'angustus', narrow, related to 'angere', to choke, the root of 'anger' and 'anxious'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as anguisse. A feeling of being squeezed by pain. It reached English by 1200s as anguish. Used of both body and mind. Today, anguish means severe mental or physical pain.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient angustia "tightness, distress", from 'angustus', narrow, related to 'angere', to choke, the root of 'anger' and 'anxious'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval anguisse "choking distress", a feeling of being squeezed by pain.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s anguish "severe distress", used of both body and mind.