Lachrymating

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Producing or releasing tears, especially in response to irritation such as smoke, onions or a chemical agent
2. Causing the eyes to water and shed tears, typically through irritation or exposure to something harsh
3. Making a person weep or the eyes flow with tears, often as a reaction to a stinging or irritating substance

Etymology: Lachrymating is the present participle and gerund of "lachrymate," meaning to shed tears. "Lachrymate" comes from Latin "lachrymatus" or "lacrimatus," the past participle of "lachrymare" or "lacrimare," "to weep," which is built on the noun "lacrima," "tear," plus the verb-forming suffix -ate. A Medieval Latin noun, "lachryma," also fed into the English verb through the same suffix.

Synonyms: weep, cry, shed tears