mis|er|y «MIHZ uhr ee, MIHZ ree», noun, plural -er|ies.
1. a miserable, unhappy state of mind: »
Think of the misery of having no home or friends. It is acknowledged that rage, envy, resentment, are in themselves mere misery (Samuel Butler).
SYNONYM(S): wretchedness, woe, distress.2. poor, mean, miserable circumstances: »
the misery of poverty, companions in misery. The very poor live in misery without beauty or comfort around them.
3. a miserable condition or circumstance; a use or source of wretchedness: »
The explorer was exposed to unthinkable miseries and hardships. That packet of assorted miseries which we call a ship (Rudyard Kipling).
4. U.S. bodily pain: »
He had the worst “misery in his back” that he had ever suffered (George W. Cable).
╂[< Latin miseria < miser wretched]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.