Associations to the word «Wail»

Wiktionary

WAIL, noun. A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.
WAIL, noun. Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.
WAIL, noun. A sound made by emergency vehicle sirens, contrasted with "yelp" which is higher-pitched and faster.
WAIL, verb. (intransitive) To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.
WAIL, verb. (intransitive) To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.
WAIL, verb. (intransitive) To make a noise like mourning or crying.
WAIL, verb. (transitive) To lament; to bewail; to grieve over.
WAIL, verb. (slang) (music) To perform with great liveliness and force.
WAIL, verb. (obsolete) To choose; to select.
WAIL ON, verb. (slang) To strike an opponent heavily and repeatedly in a fight.
WAIL ON, verb. (slang) To beat heavily on anything.

Dictionary definition

WAIL, noun. A cry of sorrow and grief; "their pitiful laments could be heard throughout the ward".
WAIL, verb. Emit long loud cries; "wail in self-pity"; "howl with sorrow".
WAIL, verb. Cry weakly or softly; "she wailed with pain".

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