Etymology 1

From Old French ache, from Latin apium, parsley, from Hebrew achor, misery or pain.

Etymology 2

aken (verb) & ache (noun) from acan (verb) [from ] and æċe (noun) [from ]. The noun was originally pronounced as spelled--with a palatized ch sound (cf batch < bake); and the verb was originally strong, conjugating for tense like take (eg. I ake, I oke, I have aken ), but gradually becoming weak during Middle English. Historically the verb was spelled ake, and the noun as ache (--Shak.). Confusion arose when Dr Johnson mistakingly cited derivation from Ancient Greek , "pain", due to the similarites in form and meaning.

Verb

1. To suffer pain; to be the source of, or be in, pain, especially continued dull pain; to be distressed.

   • Fie, how my bones ache! - Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, II-v
   • The sins that in your conscience ache. — Keble

Noun

1. Continued dull pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain.

   • Fill all thy bones with aches - Shakespeare, Tempest, I-ii