wail
[weyl]
- to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering: to wail with pain.
- to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.
- to lament or mourn bitterly.
- Jazz. to perform exceptionally well.
- Slang. to express emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.
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- to express deep sorrow for; mourn; lament; bewail: to wail the dead; to wail one's fate.
- to express in wailing; cry or say in lamentation: to wail one's grief.
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- the act of wailing.
- a wailing cry, as of grief, pain, or despair.
- any similar mournful sound: the wail of an old tune.
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Origin of wail
1300–50; Middle English weile (v. and noun), perhaps derivative of Old English weilā(wei) well-away; compare Old English wǣlan to torment, Old Norse wǣla to wail
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for wailing
Contemporary Examples
When the Iraqis resume shouting and wailing at you, Hassan translates every exclamation until you tell him to stop.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in IraqNathan Bradley Bethea
August 31, 2014
In his 2000 visit to Israel, the Polish pope placed a note at the Wailing Wall seeking forgiveness for Christian anti-Semitism.
The show kicks off with Tony, who has one Jewish parent and absolutely no faith, visiting the Wailing Wall.
The entire nation is mourning the news, shell-shocked by images of wailing children fleeing the schools single file.
Weaving through the jungle of wailing ambulances on 1st Avenue was a bright-eyed young dad, light-blue bassinet in tow.
Historical Examples
As I was coming by the river I heard them weeping and wailing.
Opera Stories from WagnerFlorence Akin
The sounds were those of females, and were thrillingly soft and wailing.
The Last of the MohicansJames Fenimore Cooper
Sad and mournful are thy ways, Grieving, wailing, Autumn days!
Farm BalladsWill Carleton
When she departed there was weeping, and wailing, and waiting.
Who Was Who: 5000 B. C. to DateAnonymous
And there was noise—the noise of words and of wailing Indian music.
Lotus BudsAmy Carmichael
wail
- (intr) to utter a prolonged high-pitched cry, as of grief or misery
- (intr) to make a sound resembling such a crythe wind wailed in the trees
- (tr) to lament, esp with mournful sounds
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- a prolonged high-pitched mournful cry or sound
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Word Origin
C14: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse vǣla to wail, Old English wā woe
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
Word Origin and History for wailing
wail
n.
c.1400; see wail (v.).
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wail
v.
early 14c., from Old Norse væla "to lament," from væ "woe" (see woe). Of jazz musicians, "to play very well," attested from 1955, American English slang (wailing "excellent" is attested from 1954). Related: Wailed.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper