Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PAIN, v.t. [W. poeni; Norm. painer; Fr. peiner; Sp. penar; It. penare; D. pynen; Dan. piner; Sw. pina; Sax. pinan; Gr. πονεω. The primary sense is to strain, urge, press. See the Noun.]

1. To make uneasy or to disquiet; to cause uneasy sensations in the body, of any degree of intensity; to make simply uneasy, or to distress, to torment. The pressure of fetters may pain a limb; the rack pains the body.
2. To afflict; to render uneasy in mind; to disquiet; to distress. We are pained at the death of a friend; grief pains the heart; we are often pained with fear or solicitude. I am pained at my very heart. – Jer. iv.
3. Reciprocally, to pain one's self, to labor; to make toilsome efforts. [Little used.] – Spenser.