pains
/peɪnz/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
Trouble taken doing something; attention to detail; careful effort.
Noun
Examples
Captain went out in the cab all the morning. Harry came in after school to feed me and give me water. In the afternoon I was put into the cab. Jerry took as much pains to see if the collar and bridle fitted comfortably, as if he had been John Manly over again.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “pains” mean?
Trouble taken doing something; attention to detail; careful effort.
Is “pains” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.