wailing

English

Etymology

wail +‎ -ing

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈweɪlɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: whaling
• Rhymes: -eɪlɪŋ

Noun

wailing (plural wailings)

1. A loud drawn out scream or howl.
   • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, “The Rescue”, in Moonfleet, London, Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, page 69:

     'For as soon as I heard Tewkesbury tell of screams and wailings in the air, and no one to be seen,' said Elzevir, 'I guessed that some poor soul had got shut in the vault, and was there crying for his life.

Derived terms

• weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth

 

Verb

wailing

1. present participle and gerund of wail

   Craig ran off wailing because his friend pulled a prank on him.

References

• “wailing”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “wailing”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.