˜yÐÄvlog

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wail

[ weyl ]

verb (used without object)

  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.


verb (used with object)

  1. to express deep sorrow for; mourn; lament; bewail:

    to wail the dead;

    to wail one's fate.

  2. to express in wailing; cry or say in lamentation:

    to wail one's grief.

noun

  1. the act of wailing.
  2. a wailing cry, as of grief, pain, or despair.
  3. any similar mournful sound:

    the wail of an old tune.

wail

/ ·É±ðɪ±ô /

verb

  1. intr to utter a prolonged high-pitched cry, as of grief or misery
  2. intr to make a sound resembling such a cry

    the wind wailed in the trees

  3. tr to lament, esp with mournful sounds
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a prolonged high-pitched mournful cry or sound
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ·É²¹¾±±ô´Ú³Ü±ô, adjective
  • ˈ·É²¹¾±±ô´Ú³Ü±ôly, adverb
  • ˈ·É²¹¾±±ô±ð°ù, noun
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Other ˜yÐÄvlogs From

  • ·É²¹¾±±ô·±ð°ù noun
  • ³Ü²Ô··É²¹¾±±ô±ð»å adjective
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of wail1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English weile (verb and noun), perhaps derivative of Old English ·É±ð¾±±ôÄå·É±ð¾± wellaway ( def ); compare Old English ·ÉÇ£±ô²¹²Ô “to torment,†Old Norse ·ÉÇ£±ô²¹ “to wailâ€
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of wail1

C14: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse ±¹Ç£±ô²¹ to wail, Old English ·ÉÄå woe
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Example Sentences

"I wanted to come here desperately, I wanted to see my husband," wailed one woman, who gave her name as Naruemol, as her friend comforted her.

From

To the side, women wailed, beating their chests or throwing fistfuls of rice and rose petals.

From

The conservative sentiment toward Harris was summed up by Lori Smith, 66, a dental hygienist in Gold River, who responded to the mention of her name with a combination wail and snort.

From

Her great-uncle had issued a mandate from his village that they would not mourn his sister’s death in typical Zambian fashion: No one would sleep over at the house; no one would wail in sorrow.

From

I wailed through the phone to my mother.

From

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