twinge
pronunciation
How to pronounce twinge in British English:
UK [twɪndʒ]
How to pronounce twinge in American English:
US [twɪndʒ]
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- Noun:
- a sudden sharp feeling
- a sharp stab of pain
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- Verb:
- cause a stinging pain
- feel a sudden sharp, local pain
- squeeze tightly between the fingers
Word Origin
- twinge (n.)
- 1540s, "a pinch, a nipping," from obsolete verb twinge "to pinch, tweak," from Old English twengan "to pinch," from Proto-Germanic *twangjan (cognates: Old Frisian thwinga, Old Norse þvinga, Danish tvinge, Dutch dwingen, Old High German thwingan, German zwingen "to compel, force"), from PIE *twengh- "to press in on" (see thong). Meaning "sharp, sudden minor pain" is recorded from c. 1600. Figurative sense (with reference to shame, remorse, etc.) is recorded from 1620s.
Example
- 1. He felt a slight twinge in his knee .
- 2. In a passage that compares the " dim roar of london " to the " bourdon note of an organ , " wilde inserts the word " distant " before " organ , " adding a twinge of far-off religious dread .
- 3. But a breakup at 36 gave her a twinge of panic .
- 4. But this christmas , I almost feel a twinge of pity .
- 5. A twinge of anger entered his voice .