throe

SayTHROHUS/θɹoʊ/UK/θɹəʊ/

7 meanings of throe

1
nouncountable
Sharp pain felt during childbirth, or the suffering of a dying person.
Like waves of pain that come one after another.
Each throe of labor left her gasping for breath.
The dying man's final throes were painful to watch.
Similarcontraction, pang, agony, pain
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2
nounfigurativelycountable
A hard struggle, especially when starting or finishing a difficult job.
Like the last hard push to get up a steep hill.
The startup was in the throes of getting its first product ready.
She felt every throe of the struggle to finish on time.
Similarstruggle, turmoil, midst, grip
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3
nouncountable
A sudden strong pain or burst of feeling that grips you.
Like a sudden wave of feeling that you cannot hold back.
A throe of grief washed over her at the funeral.
Throes of laughter shook the whole room.
Similarwave, pang, spasm, fit, paroxysm
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4
nouncountable
A sharp, strong pain or spasm, like the kind felt in childbirth or while dying.
Like a cramp that suddenly tightens and grips your whole body.
A sudden throe of pain bent him double.
The throes of childbirth gripped her every few minutes.
Similarpang, spasm, paroxysm, convulsion, contraction
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Less common meanings

5
verbobsoleteintransitive
To suffer great pain and struggle in agony.
Like twisting in pain that will not stop.
The sick man would throe whenever the pain returned.
[W]hile yet he gazed at the wonderful countenance, his memory began to throe and struggle.
1880, Lew[is] Wallace, Ben-HurHere, throe means struggle in pain.
Similarsuffer, ache, agonize, hurt, pain
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6
verbobsoletetransitive
To make someone feel terrible pain and put them in agony.
Like something that twists your insides with pain.
The cruel news throed her with grief.
Pre-thee ſay on, / The ſetting of thine eye, and cheeke proclaime / A matter from thee; and a birth, indeed, / Which throwes thee much to yeeld.
1610, William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”Here, throwes means puts you in great pain, like giving birth.
Similartorture, torment, afflict, hurt, agonize
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7
nounobsolete
A tool with a blade used to split wood into shingles or thin strips.
Like a big knife you hit with a hammer to split wood.
He hit the throe with a wooden mallet to split the log.
She used a throe to split shingles for the roof.
Similarfroe, frow
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Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–6

This word comes from Middle English throu or throwe, meaning pain (especially the pain of childbirth) or suffering. It goes back to Old English words for suffering and longing. The modern spelling is from the 1500s, perhaps to keep it separate from "throw."

Meaning 7

This may be a different spelling of "froe."