n.
a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger.
▸a sound resembling this.
v.
- give or utter a wail.
- literary manifest or feel deep sorrow for; lament.
Derivative
- wailer n.
- wailful adj. (literary).
- wailing n. & adj.
- wailingly adv.
Etymology
ME: from ON; rel. to woe.