sprain

Pluralsprains

Formssprains, spraining, sprained

1. 1
   nouncountable

   The injury produced by wrenching a joint beyond its normal range, overstretching or tearing the ligaments, or the soreness and lameness that result.

   A bad sprain left him limping for nearly two weeks.

   Most wrist sprains heal within a few weeks of rest.

   Similarstrain

   Note

   This noun is older than the verb it seems to come from: it dates from 1601, the verb from 1622. Its origin may be Middle French espraindre, "to press out, to wring," from Latin exprimere, which would make it a cousin of express. It names the injured part with of (a bad sprain of the wrist), and like the verb it stops short of dislocation: the joint is overstretched, not put out of place.

2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To injure a joint, ligament, or muscle by suddenly wrenching or overstretching it, without dislocating it.

   Climbers often sprain a wrist trying to break a fall.

   He sprained his knee landing awkwardly after the jump.

   Similartwist, wrench

   Note

   This may be a wringing word at heart. Its probable ancestor is Middle French espraindre, 'to press out, to wring', from Latin exprimere, which would make sprain a cousin of express. The image suits the injury: a joint twisted hard while the bones stay in place, which sets it apart from a dislocation. The verb takes the injured part as its direct object, so you sprain a knee or a wrist.

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