sprain

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a painful injury to a joint caused by a sudden wrenching of its ligaments
  2. verb twist suddenly so as to sprain

Etymology

1601, verb attested 1622. Possibly borrowed from Middle French espraindre (“to press out, to wring”), from Latin exprimere, in which case cognate to express.

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