smarting

From Middle English smertyng, smertinge, from Old English smeortung, smertung (“smarting, itching”), equivalent to smart +‎ -ing.

smarting (comparative more smarting, superlative most smarting)

1. Painful, sore.

   My arm is still smarting from where the ball hit it.

2. (figuratively) Experiencing emotional pain or embarrassment.

smarting

1. present participle and gerund of smart

smarting (countable and uncountable, plural smartings)

1. A sensation that smarts or stings.
   • 1714, Thomas Halyburton, Natural Religion Insufficient, and Revealed Religion Necessary, to Man's Happiness in his Present State:

     Strong they are; for they trample upon our light, the penalties of laws divine and human; yea, and the smartings of our own conscience.

• Grantism, Ntigrams, migrants