Wail

Pronunciation: /weɪl/

Definitions of wail

noun a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger

Example Sentences

A1 The baby's wail could be heard throughout the house.

A2 The wail of the sirens filled the air as the emergency vehicles rushed by.

B1 The wail of the wind outside made it difficult to sleep.

B2 The mournful wail of the singer brought tears to the audience's eyes.

C1 The wail of the grieving widow echoed through the empty halls of the mansion.

C2 The haunting wail of the ghostly apparition sent shivers down my spine.

Examples of wail in a Sentence

formal The mourners began to wail as the casket was lowered into the ground.

informal I could hear the baby wail from the next room.

slang She wailed about not being able to go to the concert.

figurative The wind seemed to wail through the trees on that stormy night.

Grammatical Forms of wail

• past tense: wailed
• plural: wails
• comparative: more wailing
• superlative: most wailing
• present tense: wail
• future tense: will wail
• perfect tense: have wailed
• continuous tense: is wailing
• singular: wail
• positive degree: wail
• infinitive: to wail
• gerund: wailing
• participle: wailing

Origin and Evolution of wail

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'wail' originated from the Old English word 'wǣlan' which means to lament or bewail.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'wail' has evolved to encompass a broader range of meanings related to expressing grief, sorrow, or distress through loud and mournful cries.