wail

wail
wailer, n.wailingly, adv.
/wayl/, v.i.
1. to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering: to wail with pain.
2. to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.
3. to lament or mourn bitterly.
4. Jazz. to perform exceptionally well.
5. Slang. to express emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.
v.t.
6. to express deep sorrow for; mourn; lament; bewail: to wail the dead; to wail one's fate.
7. to express in wailing; cry or say in lamentation: to wail one's grief.
n.
8. the act of wailing.
9. a wailing cry, as of grief, pain, or despair.
10. any similar mournful sound: the wail of an old tune.
[1300-50; ME weile (v. and n.), perh. deriv. of OE weila(wei) WELL-AWAY; cf. OE waelan to torment, ON waela to wail]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • wail´er — wail «wayl», verb, noun. –v.i. 1. to cry long and loud because of grief or pain: »The baby wailed. 2. to make a mournful or shrill sound: »The wind wailed around the old house. The sirens were wailing for a total blackout (Graham Greene). 3. to… …   Useful english dictionary

  • wail — [weıl] v [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: From a Scandinavian language] 1.) [T] to say something in a loud, sad, and complaining way ▪ But what shall I do? Bernard wailed. 2.) to cry out with a long high sound, especially because you are very sad or in… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Wail — Wail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wailed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wailing}.] [OE. wailen, weilen, probably fr. Icel. v[ae]la; cf. Icel. v[ae], vei, woe, and E. wayment, also OE. wai, wei, woe. Cf. {Woe}.] To lament; to bewail; to grieve over; as, to wail one… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wail — Wail, v. i. To express sorrow audibly; to make mournful outcry; to weep. [1913 Webster] Therefore I will wail and howl. Micah i. 8. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wail — Wail, n. Loud weeping; violent lamentation; wailing. The wail of the forest. Longfellow. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wail — Wail, v. t. [Cf. Icel. val choice, velja to choose, akin to Goth. waljan, G. w[ a]hlen.] To choose; to select. [Obs.] Wailed wine and meats. Henryson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wail — País …   Wikipedia Español

  • wail — [ weıl ] verb 1. ) intransitive or transitive to shout or cry with a long high sound to show that you are in pain or very sad: The baby wailed all night. I m so lonely, wailed Alice. 2. ) intransitive to make a long high sound: wailing sirens ╾… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • wail — ► NOUN 1) a prolonged high pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger. 2) a sound resembling this. ► VERB ▪ give or utter a wail. DERIVATIVES wailer noun. ORIGIN Old Norse, related to WOE(Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • wail — [wāl] vi. [ME wailen < ON væla, to lament < væ, WOE] 1. to express grief or pain by long, loud cries 2. to make a plaintive, sad, crying sound [the wind wailing in the trees] 3. Jazz Slang to play in an intense or inspired manner vt.… …   English World dictionary

  • wail — index outcry, plaint Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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