ake: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Obsolete/Very Low (Archaic or dialectal)Historical, Literary, Dialectal
Quick answer
What does “ake” mean?
(obsolete, dialectal) Variant form of 'ache' meaning to experience continuous, dull pain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(obsolete, dialectal) Variant form of 'ache' meaning to experience continuous, dull pain.
An archaic or regional spelling of 'ache', used historically to refer to physical pain or, poetically, to emotional distress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Neither variety uses this spelling in modern standard English. Historically, both varieties used the 'ake' spelling before standardisation. Some British regional dialects may have retained it longer.
Connotations
In any modern context, its use would be marked as intentionally archaic, poetic, or dialectal.
Frequency
Effectively zero in contemporary published texts. Might be encountered in historical novels or transcriptions of old dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “ake” in a Sentence
Subject + ake (intransitive)Something + makes + body part + ake (causative)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ake” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- His old wound did ake in the damp weather.
- My heart shall ake for thy misfortune.
American English
- The pioneer's joints would ake after a long trek.
- It makes my head ake just to think about it.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no common examples. Historically rare.)
American English
- (Not standard; no common examples. Historically rare.)
adjective
British English
- He complained of an ake head.
- An ake feeling pervaded the limb.
American English
- She had an ake tooth that needed pulling.
- The ake sensation was constant.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or literary studies discussing archaic forms.
Everyday
Not used in standard modern English.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ake”
- Using 'ake' in modern writing.
- Pronouncing it as /æk/ or /ɑːk/ instead of /eɪk/.
- Confusing it with 'acre' or the Māori word 'ake' (forever).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an obsolete spelling of the modern word 'ache'. It is not used in contemporary standard English.
Only if you are writing historical fiction or poetry and wish to create an archaic tone. For all modern purposes, use 'ache'.
It is pronounced exactly like the modern word 'ache' /eɪk/, rhyming with 'bake' and 'cake'.
The change was influenced by a false association with the Greek word 'akhos' (pain) during the Renaissance, leading to the adoption of the 'ch' spelling in the 17th century.
(obsolete, dialectal) Variant form of 'ache' meaning to experience continuous, dull pain.
Ake is usually historical, literary, dialectal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “heart-ake (heartache)”
- “make one's bones ake”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
AKE is an AKe for an ACHE. It's the old-fashioned way to spell the same pain.
Conceptual Metaphor
PAIN IS A POSSESSION ('I have an ake'); PAIN IS A FORCE ('the ake gripped him')
Practice
Quiz
What is the status of the word 'ake' in modern standard English?