wail
(wāl)
[Middle English wailen, probably of Scandinavian originOld Norse vāla, vǣla.]
verb: wailed, wail·ing, wails.
intransitive verb
- To grieve or protest loudly and bitterly; lament. See synonyms at cry
- To make a prolonged, high-pitched sound suggestive of a cry: The wind wailed through the trees.
transitive verb
Archaic
- To lament over; bewail.
noun
- A long, loud, high-pitched cry, as of grief or pain.
- A long, loud, high-pitched sound: the wail of a siren.
- A loud, bitter protest: A wail of misery went up when new parking restrictions were announced.
derivatives
- waiĺer
- noun
- waiĺing·ly
- adverb