Definition of wail

The origin of the word "wail" can be traced back to Old English, specifically to the word "wælan," which meant "to cry aloud, howl." This Old English word evolved over time and appeared in Middle English as "weilen" or "weilen," which meant both "to cry aloud" and "to complain." In the late 14th century, the spelling of the word changed to "wilen," and in the 16th century, it became "waile" or "waiel," which was used to describe a loud, mournful cry. By the 18th century, the word had achieved its modern form, "wail," and had a sense of urgency and despair associated with it. Today, the word "wail" is commonly used to describe a loud, mournful cry, especially one that is associated with grief, sadness, or distress. Its association with mourning and loss goes back centuries and is deeply ingrained in our language and culture.