wince1

 
Pronunciation: /wɪns/

verb

[no object]
  • make a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of pain or distress: he winced at the disgust in her voice

noun

  • an instance of wincing.

Derivatives

wincer

noun

wincing

adjective

wincingly

adverb

Origin:

Middle English (originally in the sense 'kick restlessly from pain or impatience'): from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French guenchir 'turn aside'