Definition of weep

The word "weep" has its roots in the Old English language, where it was spelled as "wepan." The Old English word came from the Proto-Germanic "wepanwian," which means "to emit a high-pitched cry" or "to wail." In Old English, the word "wepan" was primarily used to describe the sound made by animals, particularly dogs, during mourning or distress. However, by the Middle English period (roughly 1100-1485 AD), the meaning of the word "weep" had expanded to include human emotions as well. In Middle English, the spelling of "wepen" evolved into "wepen," and by the 14th century, it had become "wepen" in Modern English, when the "n" was dropped at the end due to a phonetic rule that no longer applies in Modern English. Today, the word "weep" is still used to describe the act of crying or shedding tears, especially as a result of sadness or grief. Its origin, however, speaks to the deep and universal nature of the emotional reaction we all experience when we confront pain or loss.