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Bedlam vs Wail - What's the difference?

bedlam | wail | Related terms |

Bedlam is a related term of wail.


In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between bedlam and wail

is that bedlam is (obsolete) a lunatic asylum; a madhouse while wail is (obsolete) to choose; to select.

As nouns the difference between bedlam and wail

is that bedlam is a place or situation of chaotic uproar, and where confusion prevails while wail is a prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.

As a verb wail is

to cry out, as in sorrow or anguish or wail can be (obsolete) to choose; to select.

bedlam

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A place or situation of chaotic uproar, and where confusion prevails.
  • * 1872 : , The Complete Works of John Bunyan , p 133
    • Some of the wards were veritable "bedlams ," and dis-charged patients have told of abuses practiced in them of which the mere recital causes a shudder.
  • * 2002 : Mark L. Friedman, ''Everyday Crisis Management, p 134
    • The outside of the Hyatt was bedlam . There was a group of more than a hundred injured people on the circular drive in front of the hotel.
  • (obsolete) An insane person; a lunatic; a madman.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Let's get the bedlam to lead him.
  • (obsolete) A lunatic asylum; a madhouse.
  • * 1720 : , The works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson , p 43
    • But if any man should profess to believe these things, and yet allow himself in any known wickedness, such a one should be put into bedlam.

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    * * *

    wail

    English

    Etymology 1

    Probably from (etyl) Etymology in Webster's Dictionary

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.
    • She let out a loud, doleful wail .
  • Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.
    • The wail of snow-dark winter winds.
    A bird's wail in the night.
  • A sound made by emergency vehicle sirens, contrasted with "yelp" which is higher-pitched and faster.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.
  • To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.
  • To make a noise like mourning or crying.
    • The wind wailed and the rain streamed down.
  • To lament; to bewail; to grieve over.
    • to wail one's death
    (Shakespeare)
  • (slang, music) To perform with great liveliness and force.
  • *
  • *
  • *
    • Derived terms
    * wailer * wailingly
    References

    Etymology 2

    Compare Icelandic word for "choice".

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To choose; to select.
  • * Henryson
    • Wailed wine and meats
    (Webster 1913) English terms with homophones