Howling

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/

Definitions

1. A prolonged vocalization that often expresses pain or sadness, typically associated with certain animals while they are in distress or during specific situations
2. A vocal expression characterized by loudness and duration, commonly produced by animals to signal loneliness or discomfort in particular environments
3. Making a loud, drawn-out sound often linked to animals expressing emotion or alerting others

Etymology: "Howling" is a plain formation: the verb "howl" with the suffix "-ing" attached, which turns an action into a noun or a participle. The Middle English forms "howlynge" and "howelynge" show the same construction in the period when English was taking shape after the Norman Conquest, so the word is about as transparent as English word-building gets. The useful story lies in "howl" itself, which is the older and more interesting element. It is a sound word, related to the Latin "ululare", which described the wailing cry of mourners and animals, and the English verb grew from that same imitative root. The -ing ending simply lets the sound be treated as a thing in its own right, as in "the howling of the wind."

Synonyms: wailing, yowling, screaming, crying, baying

Antonyms: silence, quiet, calm, stillness, peace