Moan

Moan

Noun / Verb · /məʊn/

Definition

(Noun) a long, low sound of pain, suffering, or pleasure; a complaint or grievance, especially a persistent or minor one (British English informal); (Verb) to make a moan sound; to complain persistently and complainingly about minor matters.

Origin

From Old English mǣnan (to moan, to complain, to lament), from Proto-Germanic *mainan, related to words meaning to think, intend, or mean in other Germanic languages. The same Old English root also gives mean (to intend or signify) — the connection being that to moan was originally to give voice to one's meaning or intention in the sense of expressing inner pain or grievance. Moan as a noun dates from the 13th century. The informal complaint sense — stop moaning — is particularly characteristic of British English.