Wauling

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A prolonged, sorrowful sound typically associated with expressions of grief or distress is often made in response to loss or pain
2. The high-pitched and mournful vocalization reflects deep emotional turmoil and is commonly linked to anguish
3. A mournful and prolonged cry indicates sorrow or distress, often expressing grief during moments of loss or emotional anguish

Etymology: "Wauling" is the gerund of "waul," a verb meaning to cry out in a long, mournful way, the sort of noise a cat makes at night. The verb descends from Middle English "wraulen" or "wrawlen," which meant to cry like a cat or to roar, so the sense of a harsh, drawn-out howl was present from the start. The word belongs to a family of Scandinavian-flavoured sounds. Danish "vræle" and "vråle" and Swedish "vråla" all mean to bellow, roar, howl or yell, and the English verb appears to have taken the same rough, growling shape. "Wrawl" is a close relative in English, sharing the same root, so the whole group clusters around noises that are loud, raw and hard to ignore.

Synonyms: wailing, crying, lamenting, howling, yowling

Antonyms: laughing, cheering