Wail
/weɪl/noun
To make a loud, mournful cry, typically expressing sorrow or grief.
Did you know?In olden times, wailing was believed to summon spirits or influence the fates, linking it to both grief and power over the unseen.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weḱ-
“to cry out, call”
Old English
Old English
wǣlan
“to lament, cry, or weep”
Middle English
Middle English
wailen
“to express sorrow through loud cries”
15th Century
English
wail
“to utter a loud cry of grief or pain”
Modern English
English
wail
“to express deep sorrow or lamentation vocally”