Associations to the word «Moan»

Wiktionary

MOAN, noun. A low, mournful cry of pain, sorrow or pleasure
MOAN, verb. (transitive) (now rare) To complain about; to bemoan, to bewail; to mourn. [from 13th c.]
MOAN, verb. (intransitive) (now chiefly poetic) To grieve. [from 14th c.]
MOAN, verb. (transitive) (obsolete) To distress (someone); to sadden. [15th-17th c.]
MOAN, verb. (intransitive) To make a moan or similar sound. [from 18th c.]
MOAN, verb. (transitive) To say in a moan, or with a moaning voice. [from 19th c.]
MOAN, verb. (intransitive) (colloquial) To complain; to grumble. [from 20th c.]

Dictionary definition

MOAN, noun. An utterance expressing pain or disapproval.
MOAN, verb. Indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure; "The students groaned when the professor got out the exam booklets"; "The ancient door soughed when opened".

Wise words

Words are always getting conventionalized to some secondary meaning. It is one of the works of poetry to take the truants in custody and bring them back to their right senses.
William Butler Yeats