pule

American  

[pyool] / pyul /

verb (used without object)

puled, puling

1. to cry in a thin voice; whine; whimper.

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pule British  

/ pjuːl /

verb

1. (intr) to cry plaintively; whimper

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• puler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pule

First recorded in 1525–35; perhaps imitative

Explanation

To pule is to cry, but not loudly. Puling is weak, soft crying. It's a pathetic sound. Unfortunately, there are many ways to cry. You can bawl, which is loud crying. On the other end of the spectrum, you can pule. When you pule, you're crying weakly at a low volume. When dogs are scared, they often pule. Children sometimes pule when they don't get their way. People pule when they're sad, frightened, heartbroken, or tired. People pule when they don't have the energy to cry louder.

Example Sentences

Once everyone is present, Tūtū opens us with a pule, prayer.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

We pule again, and then we line up to scoop food onto our plates.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

In the translation of this pule the author has found it necessary to depart from the verse arrangement that obtains in the Hawaiian text.

From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright

In truth, the Hawaiians not unfrequently applied the term pule to compositions which we moderns find it hard to bring within our definitions of prayer.

From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright

He then coost it into the deep pule below, making the flee skim alang the top o' the water, as skeelfully as onything ye ever saw.

From The Genius of Scotland or Sketches of Scottish Scenery, Literature and Religion by Turnbull, Robert