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wail
To wail is defined as to cry to express intense sadness.
(verb)An example of to wail is to sob loudly at a funeral.
Wail is slang for to play very well on an instrument.
(verb)An example of to wail is to play an amazing piano solo in a jazz performance.
The definition of a wail is a long cry.
(noun)An example of a wail is a cry by a very upset baby.
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See wail in Webster's New World College Dictionary
intransitive verb
- to express grief or pain by long, loud cries
- to make a plaintive, sad, crying sound: the wind wailing in the trees
- Jazz, Slang to play in an intense or inspired manner
Origin: ME wailen < ON væla, to lament < væ, woe
transitive verb
- to lament; mourn: to wail someone's death
- to cry out in mourning or lamentation
noun
- a long, pitiful cry of grief and pain
- a sound like this
- the act of wailing
Related Forms:
- wailer noun
See wail in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb wailed, wail·ing, wails verb, intransitive
- 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.
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.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English wailen
Origin: , probably of Scandinavian origin
Origin: ; akin to Old Norse vāla, vǣla
.Related Forms:
- wailˈer noun
- wailˈing·ly adverb
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