Dictionary-Definition.com :: Twinge definition

Definition of 'twinge'

noun

A sudden sharp feeling; "pangs of regret"; "she felt a stab of excitement"; "twinges of conscience" [syn: pang, stab, twinge]

noun

A sharp stab of pain

verb

Cause a stinging pain; "The needle pricked his skin" [syn: prick, sting, twinge]

verb

Feel a sudden sharp, local pain

verb

Squeeze tightly between the fingers; "He pinched her behind"; "She squeezed the bottle" [syn: pinch, squeeze, twinge, tweet, nip, twitch]

From: GCIDE

Twinge \Twinge\, v. i. To have a sudden, sharp, local pain, like a twitch; to suffer a keen, darting, or shooting pain; as, the side twinges. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Twinge \Twinge\, n.
1. A pinch; a tweak; a twitch. [1913 Webster]
A master that gives you . . . twinges by the ears. --L' Estrange. [1913 Webster]
2. A sudden sharp pain; a darting local pain of momentary continuance; as, a twinge in the arm or side. " A twinge for my own sin." --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Twinge \Twinge\ (tw[i^]nj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Twinged (tw[i^]njd); p. pr. & vb. n. Twinging.] [OE. twengen, AS. twengan; akin to OE. twingen to pain, afflict, OFries. thwinga, twinga, dwinga, to constrain, D. dwingen, OS. thwingan, G. zwingen, OHG. dwingan, thwingan, to press, oppress, overcome, Icel. [thorn]vinga, Sw. tvinga to subdue, constrain, Dan. tvinge, and AS. [thorn]["u]n to press, OHG. d[=u]hen, and probably to E. thong. Perhaps influenced by twitch. Cf. Thong.]
1. To pull with a twitch; to pinch; to tweak. [1913 Webster]
When a man is past his sense, There's no way to reduce him thence, But twinging him by the ears or nose, Or laying on of heavy blows. --Hudibras. [1913 Webster]
2. To affect with a sharp, sudden pain; to torment with pinching or sharp pains. [1913 Webster]
The gnat . . . twinged him [the lion] till he made him tear himself, and so mastered him. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]