Misery

Pronunciation

Origin

From Old French miserie (modern: misère), from Latin miseria, from miser.

Full definition of misery

Noun

1. Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind; wretchedness; distress; woe.Ever since his wife left him you can see the misery on his face.
2. Cause of misery; calamity; misfortune.
3. (extreme) poverty
4. Covetousness; niggardliness; avarice.

Derived terms

• put out of one's misery

Related terms

• commiserate
• miser