gripes
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. Acute abdominal pain, especially in infants: A condition characterized by sudden, severe pain in the stomach or intestines. This term is often used specifically for colicky pain in babies. Example: The baby's constant crying was due to gripes.
Usage Notes
- The word "gripes" is typically used in its plural form when referring to this type of pain.
- It is considered a somewhat dated or medical term, most commonly associated with infant colic.
- It functions as a countable noun (e.g., ).
Examples
- Noun:
- The old remedy was said to soothe a child's gripes.
- Symptoms included fever and severe gripes.
Advanced Usage
- The gripes: Used with the definite article to refer to the condition generally.
- The medicine is for treating the gripes.
Variants and Related Words
- Gripe (verb): To complain or express discontent.
- He would always gripe about the weather.
- Note: This is a separate, more common meaning of the base word "gripe."
- Gripe (noun): A complaint.
- She listened to his every gripe about work.
- Griping (adjective/noun): Causing or characterized by abdominal pain; or the act of complaining.
- He had a griping pain in his side. (adjective)
- Her constant griping was tiresome. (noun)
Synonyms
- Colic: Spasmodic abdominal pain.
- Cramps: Painful, involuntary muscle contractions, often in the abdomen.
- Stomach ache: A general term for abdominal pain.
Word Origin
From the verb gripe, from Old English grīpan meaning 'to seize, attack,' which came to mean 'to cause pain in the bowels,' and later, 'to complain.' The noun form for abdominal pain dates from the early 17th century.
Noun
- acute abdominal pain (especially in infants)