Main Entry: ¹wail

Pronunciation: \ˈwāl\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English weilen, waylen, perhaps modification (influenced by Middle English weilawei wellaway) of Old Norse væla, vāla to wail; akin to Old Norse vei woe — more at woe

Date: 14th century

intransitive verb 1 : to express sorrow audibly : lament
2 : to make a sound suggestive of a mournful cry
3 : to express dissatisfaction plaintively : complaintransitive verb archaic 1 : bewail
2 : to say or express plaintively <wailed that her cake was ruined>

— wail·er \ˈwā-lər\ noun