Forms: 2–4 akyng, 5–8 aking, 7–9 aching. [f. ACHE v. + -ING1.] A painful throbbing; a feeling of continued pain.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 1088. A man that hurt is sore, And is sumdel of akyng of his wound.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R. (1495), XVII. clxxxv. 726. A dronklew mann feleth … aking in his heed.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong., The aking of ones fingers endes with very cold.
c. 1690. South, 12 Serm., II. 42. Painful Girds and Achings, which are at least called the Gout.
1842. Wordsworth, Borderers, IV. Wks. 1849, VI. 323.
| ’Tis a strange aching that, when we would curse | |
| And cannot. |
