labour

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
noun concluding state of pregnancy; from the onset of contractions to the birth of a child
noun a political party formed in Great Britain in 1900; characterized by the promotion of labor's interests and formerly the socialization of key industries

From Middle English labor, labour, labur, from Old French labor (modern labeur) and its etymon, Latin labor.

How great labour and cost is thee to find! — The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems, Geoffrey Chaucer
I am trying to arrange for your next labour.' — The Magic City, E. (Edith) Nesbit
It's ridiculous to waste our labour here," she exclaimed. — For the Sake of the School, Angela Brazil

labor, working class, proletariat

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