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groaning

noun

  1. act or process of uttering with a groan
L1494422 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹoʊnɪŋ/ / /ˈɡɹəʊnɪŋ/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English gronynge (“groaning”), from Old English grānung; equivalent to groan + -ing. Conflated with Middle English gronende, present participle of gronen, from Old English grāniende, present participle of grānian (“to groan”). Analyzable as groan + -ing.

  1. That groans.
  2. Heavily laden, as if to creak under the strain.

    We sat down to a groaning table and feasted all evening.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English gronynge (“groaning”), from Old English grānung; equivalent to groan + -ing. Conflated with Middle English gronende, present participle of gronen, from Old English grāniende, present participle of grānian (“to groan”). Analyzable as groan + -ing.

  1. A low sound associated with extended suffering, sorrow, and toil.

    From the nearby rail yards came clangings, groanings, chuggings.

  2. Ellipsis of groaning time (“childbirth, labour”).

verb

Etymology: From Middle English gronynge (“groaning”), from Old English grānung; equivalent to groan + -ing. Conflated with Middle English gronende, present participle of gronen, from Old English grāniende, present participle of grānian (“to groan”). Analyzable as groan + -ing.

  1. present participle and gerund of groan