Definitions

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Labor; toilsome effort; care or trouble taken; -- plural in form, but used with a singular or plural verb, commonly the former.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Plural form of pain.
  • noun used in plural Trouble taken doing something; attention to detail; careful effort.
  • verb Third-person singular simple present indicative form of pain.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an effortful attempt to attain a goal

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The part where you mention birthing pains is way, way lighter than say the section where on this same post you start with E-visit etc. and the rest it is nice and legibly darker.

    Page 2 2009

  • The part where you mention birthing pains is way, way lighter than say the section where on this same post you start with E-visit etc. and the rest it is nice and legibly darker.

    Page 2 2009

  • The part where you mention birthing pains is way, way lighter than say the section where on this same post you start with E-visit etc. and the rest it is nice and legibly darker.

    Page 2 2009

  • I think the "chest pains" was a ruse to gain access to the hospital records and search for evidence of a forged Obama birth certificate OR he is actually having reflux pains from the vile he spewes on the airwaves everyday.

    Limbaugh: 'Nothing wrong' 2010

  • Expect nothing but screeching growing pains from the bigots from now to eternity.

    Think Progress » Beck guest host: Vice President Biden is ‘turning Japanese’ and ‘turning into Joe Biden-son.’ 2010

  • "Short-term pains from fiscal austerity will be long-term gains for the dollar and the economy," said Mr. MacQueen.

    A Silver Lining to S&P's Cloud Min Zeng 2011

  • The third time I stop half-way with shin pains, hobble home, and put my running shoes away for another six months.

    Now, where did I put my running shoes? « Gin&Comment 2009

  • The part where you mention birthing pains is way, way lighter than say the section where on this same post you start with E-visit etc. and the rest it is nice and legibly darker.

    Page 2 2009

  • Back in the late 19th century, there was no shortage of short-term pains caused by the early macro-drivers of the industrial revolution - the death of the entire "craftsman" socio-cultural class, the re-concentration of population against the new workforce demands, virtually all of the "start-ups" of that age either driven out of business or, if lucky, bought out by the likes of Rockefeller.

    InteracTiVoty: The Media Industry Will be Alright: A Historical Perspective - Mark Risis - MediaBizBloggers 2009

  • Top prospect Josh Hamilton, who missed most of last season with back pains, is having more trouble.

    USATODAY.com - American League East 2002

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