misery

Pronunciation: /ˈmɪz(ə)ɹi/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
  2. noun a feeling of intense unhappiness

Etymology

From Middle English miserie, from Old French miserie (modern: misère), from Latin miseria, from miser, equivalent to miser + -y. Doublet of misère and mizeria.

In classic literature

Synonyms

wretchedness, miserableness

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
ill-being
Narrower (hyponyms)
concentration camp, living death, suffering

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading

Nice save! Solidify it with review →