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travail
[ truh-veyl, trav-eyl ]
/ trÉËveÉȘl, ËtrĂŠv eÉȘl /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
painfully difficult or burdensome work; toil.
pain, anguish or suffering resulting from mental or physical hardship.
the pain of childbirth.
verb (used without object)
to suffer the pangs of childbirth; be in labor.
to toil or exert oneself.
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Origin of travail
1200â50; (v.) Middle English travaillen<Old French travaillier to torment <Vulgar Latin *trepaliÄre to torture, derivative of Late Latin trepÄlium torture chamber, literally, instrument of torture made with three stakes (see tri-, pale2); (noun) Middle English <Old French: suffering, derivative of travailler
Words nearby travail
traumatic, traumatism, traumatize, traumatology, trav., travail, Travancore, trave, travel, travel agency, travel agent
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use travail in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for travail
travail
/ (ËtrĂŠveÉȘl) literary /
noun
painful or excessive labour or exertion
the pangs of childbirth; labour
verb
(intr) to suffer or labour painfully, esp in childbirth
Word Origin for travail
C13: from Old French travaillier, from Vulgar Latin tripaliÄre (unattested) to torture, from Late Latin trepÄlium instrument of torture, from Latin tripÄlis having three stakes, from trÄs three + pÄlus stake
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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