travail

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++trav·ail /ˈtræveɪl/ noun [uncountable] written (also travails [plural])WORK THAT somebody DOES a difficult or unpleasant situation, or very tiring work 艰难的处境；艰苦的劳动travail of the travails of last year’s water shortage 去年缺水的困境

Examples from the Corpus

travail• Let us be clear about the causes of our present economic travail and where the blame lies.• In the middle of this elephantine travail, there came a knock on the door.• No longer could she take any pleasure in the act; almost she had come to hate the interminable travail.• Kitchen travail was for reward; now you get gratification without labour.• Why does this inspirational man demand so much travail from his damaged body?• Many have already departed by the way of this terrible illness, no doubt others will follow before our present travail is over.travail of• the travails of old ageOrigin travail (1200-1300) Old French travaillier “to torture, work very hard”, from Vulgar Latin tripaliare “to torture”, from tripalium “instrument of torture”, from Latin tri- “three” + palus “sharp stick”

trav·ail nounChineseSyllable

very situation, work a tiring or Corpus unpleasant difficult or

travail
trav‧ail /ˈtræveɪl/

noun [uncountable] written

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: travaillier __to torture, work very hard__, from Vulgar Latin tripaliare __to torture__, from tripalium __instrument of torture__, from Latin tri- __three__ + palus __sharp stick__

(also travails [plural]) a difficult or unpleasant situation, or very tiring work
travail of