wail

2 entries found for wail.
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wail[1,verb] wailing wall

Main Entry: ¹wail
Pronunciation: 'wAl
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English weilen, waylen, perhaps modification (influenced by Middle English weilawei wellaway) of Old Norse væla, vAla to wail; akin to Old Norse vei woe -- more at WOE
intransitive verb
1 : to express sorrow audibly : LAMENT
2 : to make a sound suggestive of a mournful cry
3 : to express dissatisfaction plaintively : COMPLAIN
transitive verb, archaic
1 : BEWAIL
2 : to say or express plaintively <wailed that her cake was ruined>
- wail·er /'wA-l&r/ noun