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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | miserie, from Latin miseria, from miser; MISER |
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mis‧e‧ry S3
plural miseries
plural miseries1 [uncountable and countable] great suffering that is caused for example by being very poor or very sick : 
What we are witnessing here is human misery on a vast scale.the misery of unemployment the miseries of war
What we are witnessing here is human misery on a vast scale.the misery of unemploymentthe miseries of war2 [uncountable and countable] great unhappiness : She looked away so that Tom wouldn't see her misery. His face was a picture of sheer misery.
She looked away so that Tom wouldn't see her misery.His face was a picture of sheer misery.3 to cause so much trouble for someone that they cannot enjoy their life : Competitive mothers can make their daughters' lives a misery.
make somebody's life a misery
British EnglishCompetitive mothers can make their daughters' lives a misery.4
put something/somebody out of their misery
a) informal to make someone stop feeling worried, especially by telling them something they are waiting to hear : Go on, put them out of their misery and announce the winner.
Go on, put them out of their misery and announce the winner.b) to kill a sick or injured animal in order to end its suffering [= put down]: I think you should put the poor creature out of its misery.
I think you should put the poor creature out of its misery.5 [countable] British English spoken someone who is always complaining and never enjoys anything : Don't be such a misery.
Don't be such a misery.