Forms: 3 anguise, -oise, 3–4 anguisse, -uysse, -usse, -uis, 3–5 angus, 4 anguys, -wys(e, -wish(e, -uych, 4–5 anguisshe, -wisshe, uyssh, -wisch(e, -uysch(e, 4–6 anguysh, 5 angwich, -wysch, -wysshe, 5–6 anguyshe, -uysshe, 4– anguish. [a. OFr. anguisse, angoisse (Pr. angoissa, It. angoscia) the painful sensation of choking:—L. angustia straitness, tightness, pl. straits, f. angust-us narrow, tight, f. root angu- in ang(u)-ĕre to squeeze, strangle, cogn. w. Gr. ἄγχ-ειν.] Formerly with pl.
1. Excruciating or oppressive bodily pain or suffering, such as the sufferer writhes under.
c. 1220. Hali Meid., 35. Hwen hit þer to cumeð þat sar sorhfule angoise.
a. 1300. Pop. Sc. (Wright), 374. The bodi … in strong angusse doth smurte.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 212. Hys wounde … for angwys gan to chyne.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. iv. 31. Anguysshes as of the child berere [1388 angwischis as of a womman childynge; 1611 the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., 139. The peyne of helle … is lik deth, for the horrible anguisshe [v.r. angwissh(e, -uysch, -uyssche, -wysshe].
1485. Caxton, Chas. Gt., 238. I haue suffred many anguysshes of hungre.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. ii. 47. One paine is lesned by anothers anguish.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 150. If there be pain of the Stomach, anguish, heat.
1758. S. Hayward, Serm., xvii. 520. His [Job’s] body was full of anguish.
1880. Cyples, Hum. Exp., iii. 70. The anguish of corns and toothache.
2. Severe mental suffering, excruciating or oppressive grief or distress.
a. 1230. Ancr. R., 234. In the muchel anguise aros þe muchele mede.
1297. R. Glouc., 177. In gret anguysse and fere Wepynde byuore þe kyng.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., C. 325. When þacces of anguych watȝ hid in my sawle.
1382. Wyclif, Prov. xxi. 23. Who kepeth his mouth and his tunge, kepeth his soule fro anguysschis.
c. 1450. Merlin, 64. Grete angwysshe that he suffred for the love of Ygerne.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 46. With choloricque fretting I dumpt, and ranckled in anguish.
1611. Bible, Job vii. 11. I wil speake in the anguish of my spirit.
1678. Jenkins, in Pepys, VI. 125. An honest man … full of Anguishes for his King and his Country.
1769. Junius Lett., xxiii. 105. You may see with anguish how much … authority you have lost.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xxxiv. The deep anguish of despair.
† 3. Anguish of weathering: stress of weather. Obs.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, xxxv. 50. Angwisch of wedering made vs hider to go.
4. Comb., as anguish-stricken, -torn, -wracked.
1810. Coleridge, Friend, IV. iii. (1867), 242. The anguish-stricken wife of Toxaris.
1922. Mabel B. Horton, in L. A. Even. Express, 29 May, 18/4. Furrowed crisscross lines and restless anguish-wracked eyes envisage a soul burdened with grief and poisoned by despair.
