wailful

[weyl-fuhl]

adjective

1. mournful; plaintive.

Other Word Forms

• wailfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of wailful¹

First recorded in 1535–45; wail + -ful

Example Sentences

She begg'd so long, so wailful, that less they could not do Than force the coffin open, and give the corpse to view.

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I am not going to beat the big drum of sentiment and make a wailful noise.

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The prayers and the wailful chanting passed over his head like waves, his heart was straitened, red sparks whirled before his eyes.

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But although in his attention to the wailful melody of the words he scarcely noticed the meaning, something of the old passion and fervor had gone out of his voice.

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From behind his wailful voice the gentle knocking was heard running on.

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