Ululatio

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A vocalization characterized by a long, high-pitched sound often resembling a howl or wail
2. commonly associated with expressions of grief or sorrow
3. may be used in traditional ceremonies or performances to convey emotion

Etymology: "Ululatio" is the Latin noun for the howling or wailing cry, formed from the verb "ululare," meaning to howl. That verb is itself imitative: Latin speakers coined it to echo the sound of a long, wavering cry, much as English "howl" and "wail" do. The root sound "ul-" recurs in several Latin words for wailing, which suggests the cry was named by its noise rather than by any object or action. In the ancient world the ululation was a recognized part of ritual and mourning. Latin writers described women raising such cries at funerals and religious rites, and the practice is closely tied to the verb's everyday use. The noun form, "ululatio," is attested in classical Latin and passed into scholarly and later English usage as a learned term for the cry itself.

Synonyms: howl, wail, cry, lament, yell

Antonyms: silence, quiet, hush, calm