See also: heart-ache

English

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

From Middle English heorteece, heorte-ece, from Old English heorteċe, equivalent to heart +‎ ache. Blends both literal and figurative aspects, as emotional distress sometimes includes a physical element of chest discomfort. Compare heartbreak § Etymology, whose literal aspect is lesser although not quite zero.

Pronunciation

edit

Noun

edit

heartache (countable and uncountable, plural heartaches)

  1. Very sincere and difficult emotional problems or stress.
edit

Translations

edit