Definition of shriek

The origin of the word "shriek" can be traced back to the Middle English word "scriecen," which was used to describe a loud and piercing scream. The word is derived from the Old English "scrēcg," which meant "to screech" or "cry out." The root of "screech" is the Old English word "scrēc," which had similar meanings. The "gh" at the end of "shriek" is a spelling convention known as a softmutation, which was a common feature in Old English when certain words followed other words with the letters "n," "d," or "tl" in them. The softmutation caused a change in pronunciation, resulting in a softer, "gh" sound at the end of the suffix. This convention was preserved in Middle English, where the soft "gh" became a hard "c" or "ck" sound in some words, as in "length" and "strength." The word "shriek" was first recorded in Middle English in the 14th century, and over time it has come to have the same meaning as the Old English word "screechen." Today, it is commonly used to describe a loud and high-pitched scream, often associated with terror, surprise, or pain. In addition to its literary and artistic uses, "shriek" has also grown in popularity in popular culture, appearing in movies, songs, and other forms of media as a vivid and emotive word to convey the sound of intense and sudden outbursts of sound.