Main Entry:

¹cry

Pronunciation:

\ˈkrī\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

cried; cry·ing

Etymology:

Middle English crien, from Anglo-French crier, from Latin quiritare to make a public outcry, perhaps from Quirit-, Quiris, Roman citizen

Date:

13th century

transitive verb1: to utter loudly : shout2archaic : beg, beseech3: to proclaim publicly : advertise <cry their wares>intransitive verb1: to call loudly : shout2: to shed tears often noisily : weep, sob3: to utter a characteristic sound or call4: to require or suggest strongly a remedy or disposition <a hundred things which cry out for planning — Roger Burlingame>

— cry havoc

: to sound an alarm

— cry over spilled milk

: to express vain regrets for what cannot be recovered or undone

— cry wolf

: to give alarm unnecessarily