Meaning: The verb "wail" refers to making a long, high-pitched cry, usually expressing grief, sorrow, or pain. As a noun, it describes the sound of such a cry.
Frequency of Use: The term "wail" is moderately frequent in both oral and written contexts, often used in literature, poetry, and discussions about emotions. It is more common in written contexts, particularly in emotional or dramatic descriptions.
Example Sentences:
1. The baby began to wail loudly when he lost his favorite toy.
(El bebé empezó a llorar fuertemente cuando perdió su juguete favorito.)
She could hear a distant wail coming from the empty streets at night.
(Ella podía escuchar un lamento distante que venía de las calles vacías por la noche.)
His heart felt heavy as he listened to the widow's wail during the funeral.
(Su corazón se sentía pesado mientras escuchaba el lamento de la viuda durante el funeral.)
While "wail" is less commonly used in idiomatic expressions, it can be associated with emotions or events that invoke sorrow. Here are some idioms that includes the concept of wailing:
Wail for the lost - To mourn for someone or something that is gone.
(Llorar por los perdidos): "She still wails for the lost friends she never got to see again."
(Ella todavía llora por los amigos perdidos que nunca volvió a ver.)
Wail like a banshee - To cry out or scream loudly and in a frightening manner.
(Llorar como un banshee): "When she saw the spider, she began to wail like a banshee."
(Cuando vio la araña, comenzó a llorar como un banshee.)
Wailing wall - A term that refers to a place of lamentation, often used metaphorically.
(Muro de llanto): "The old man's stories became a wailing wall for his lost youth."
(Las historias del anciano se convirtieron en un muro de llanto por su juventud perdida.)
The word "wail" has its origins in Middle English "waile" or "walen," which derives from Old English "wælan," meaning to lament or cry out. Its roots can also trace back to the Proto-Germanic "*wailōną," which carries similar meanings related to crying or lamenting.
Synonyms: - Cry - Howl - Lament - Moan
Antonyms: - Laugh - Rejoice - Cheer - Celebrate