throe C2+ Topic:General Vocabulary US /θroʊ/ UK /θrəʊ/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a sharp pang or spasm, especially in struggle or agony The nation was caught in the throes of revolution. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a sharp pang or spasm,... pangspasmparoxysmconvulsionagonypain Word family Forms throes Related forms throes Etymology AI details From Middle English throwe, probably from Old English thrawu ('pang, throe, calamity'), perhaps influenced by thrawan ('to twist'). thrawu Old English View etymology graph -> Topics General Vocabulary External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # throe **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /θroʊ/ **IPA (UK):** /θrəʊ/ ## Meanings 1. a sharp pang or spasm, especially in struggle or agony ## Examples - The nation was caught in the throes of revolution. ## Synonyms - pang - spasm - paroxysm - convulsion - agony - pain ## Related Forms - throes ## Roots and Affixes - Root: thrawu ## Etymology From Middle English throwe, probably from Old English thrawu ('pang, throe, calamity'), perhaps influenced by thrawan ('to twist'). ## AI Etymology Throe comes from Middle English throwe, probably from Old English thrawu ('pang, throe, calamity'), perhaps influenced by thrawan ('to twist'). The historical trail runs through Old English thrawu. In modern use it means a sharp pang or spasm, especially in struggle or agony. Related forms include throes. ## Topics - General Vocabulary markdown