gripe
UK: ɡraɪp | US: ɡraɪp
n. 1. A complaint, especially a trivial or persistent one.
v. 2. To complain naggingly or petulantly.
v. 3. (Archaic) To grasp or clutch; to cause intestinal pain.
gripe = grip<grasp> + e (verb/noun suffix)
- grip (from Old English grīpan, meaning "to seize or grasp")
- e (a common suffix forming verbs/nouns in Middle English)
Etymology Origin:
The word gripe originated from Old English grīpan, meaning "to seize or clutch," reflecting physical grasping. By the 14th century, it evolved metaphorically to describe "intestinal pain" (as if the stomach were gripping). By the 16th century, it acquired its modern sense of "complaint," likely from the idea of "grasping" at grievances. The shift from physical to verbal action mirrors similar evolutions in words like grasp (to understand).
She always has a gripe about the office temperature.
Stop griping and help solve the problem.
(Archaic) The cramp gripped his stomach fiercely.
His constant gripes made the team meetings unbearable.
The sailors began to gripe about the lack of fresh supplies.