Wailing

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈweɪlɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The action of expressing profound grief through vocalizations that are often loud and piercing
2. Producing loud, mournful sounds that express sorrow or pain
3. Emitting high-pitched cries as a way to show deep sadness or anguish

Etymology: "Wailing" is simply "wail" with the suffix "-ing" added, so its history is the history of the verb it comes from. "Wail" entered English from Old Norse "væla", a word meaning to lament or whine, and it reached English through the Scandinavian settlers who spoke that language in northern and eastern England. The verb has been used for mournful crying ever since, while "wailing" carries that same sense into nouns and adjectives: a wailing is the act of crying out in grief, and a wailing sound is one that expresses that grief.

Synonyms: crying, sobbing, lamenting, howling

Antonyms: laughing, cheering