achy (adj.)

1875, first recorded in George Eliot's letters, from ache (n.) + -y (2). Middle English had akeful "painful" (early 15c.). Related: Achily; achiness.

Entries linking to achy

ache (n.)

"continuing pain," early 15c., æche, ece "an ache, pain," from Old English æce, from Proto-Germanic *akiz, from same source as ache (v.), which see for the unusual evolution of spelling and pronunciation.

-y (2)

adjective suffix, "full of or characterized by," from Old English -ig, from Proto-Germanic *-iga- (source also of Dutch, Danish, German -ig, Gothic -egs), from PIE -(i)ko-, adjectival suffix, cognate with elements in Greek -ikos, Latin -icus (see -ic). Originally added to nouns in Old English; used from 13c. with verbs, and by 15c. even with other adjectives (for example crispy).

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Definitions of achy

achy (adj.)

causing a dull and steady pain;

her old achy joints

Synonyms: aching

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near achy

achievement

Achilles

Achilles tendon

achromatic

achtung

achy

acicular

acid

acidic

acidify

acidity