ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Wail', Synonyms of 'Wail' & More on 'Wail'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

wail
    n 1: a cry of sorrow and grief; "their pitiful laments could be
         heard throughout the ward" [syn: lament, lamentation,
         plaint, wail]
    v 1: emit long loud cries; "wail in self-pity"; "howl with
         sorrow" [syn: howl, ululate, wail, roar, yawl,
         yaup]
    2: cry weakly or softly; "she wailed with pain" [syn: wail,
       whimper, mewl, pule]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Wail \Wail\, v. i.
   To express sorrow audibly; to make mournful outcry; to weep.
   [1913 Webster]

         Therefore I will wail and howl. --Micah i. 8.
   [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Wail \Wail\, n.
   Loud weeping; violent lamentation; wailing. "The wail of the
   forest." --Longfellow.
   [1913 Webster]

4. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Wail \Wail\, v. t. [Cf. Icel. val choice, velja to choose, akin
   to Goth. waljan, G. w[aum]hlen.]
   To choose; to select. [Obs.] "Wailed wine and meats."
   --Henryson.
   [1913 Webster]

5. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Wail \Wail\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wailed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Wailing.] [OE. wailen, weilen, probably fr. Icel. v[ae]la;
   cf. Icel. v[ae], vei, woe, and E. wayment, also OE. wai, wei,
   woe. Cf. Woe.]
   To lament; to bewail; to grieve over; as, to wail one's
   death. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for Wail:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

bark, bawl, bay, bell, bellow, blare, blat, blate, bleat, blubber, boohoo, boom, bray, breathe, buzz, cackle, call, caterwaul, chant, chirp, coo, creak, crow, cry, cry out, dolorous tirade, drawl, exclaim, flute, fuss, gasp, give tongue, give voice, groan, growl, grunt, hiss, howl, jeremiad, keen, kick, lament, lilt, low, make an outcry, meow, mew, mewl, miaow, moan, moo, mumble, murmur, mutter, neigh, nicker, outcry, pant, pipe, plaint, planctus, pule, quest, repine, roar, rumble, screak, scream, screech, shriek, shrill, sibilate, sigh, sing, skirl, skreigh, snap, snarl, snort, sob, sough, squall, squawk, squeak, squeal, thunder, tirade, troat, trumpet, twang, ululate, ululation, wail of woe, warble, weep, whicker, whimper, whine, whinny, whisper, whistle, wrawl, yammer, yap, yawl, yawp, yell, yelp, yip, yowl

Common Misspellings >