Where does “painful” come from?
Painful derives from Middle English paynful, though the ultimate origin and earliest meaning remain uncertain.
painful (English): Causing pain or distress, either physical or...
Definitions
- Causing pain or distress, either physical or...
Ancestry of “painful”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | paynful | — |
Words derived from “painful”