Cry vs Wail - What's the difference?

In intransitive terms the difference between cry and wail

is that cry is to utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do while wail is to make a noise like mourning or crying.

In transitive terms the difference between cry and wail

is that cry is to cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping while wail is to lament; to bewail; to grieve over.

In obsolete terms the difference between cry and wail

is that cry is common report; gossip while wail is to choose; to select.

cry

English

Verb

(en-verb)

To shed tears; to weep.

That sad movie always makes me cry .

To utter loudly; to call out; to declare publicly.

* Shakespeare

All, all, cry shame against ye, yet I'll speak.

* Bunyan

The man ran on, crying , Life! life! Eternal life!

(ambitransitive) To shout, scream, yell.

* Bible, Matthew xxvii. 46

And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice.

To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals do.

* Bible, Psalms cxlvii. 9

the young ravens which cry

* Shakespeare

In a cowslip's bell I lie / There I couch when owls do cry .

To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or weeping.

to cry oneself to sleep

To make oral and public proclamation of; to notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods to be sold, etc.

to cry goods

* Crashaw

Love is lost, and thus she cries him.

Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.

* Judd

I should not be surprised if they were cried in church next Sabbath.

Synonyms

* weep * See also * See also

Antonyms

* laugh

Derived terms

* crybaby * cry in one's beer * cry like a baby * cry one's eyes out * cry off * cry out * cry someone a river * cry the blues * cry wolf * don't cry over spilt milk * kiss and cry

Noun

(cries)

A shedding of tears; the act of crying.

After we broke up, I retreated to my room for a good cry .

A shout or scream.

I heard a cry from afar.

Words shouted or screamed.

a battle cry

(collectively) A group of hounds.

* Shakespeare

A cry more tunable / Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn.

(Milton)

(obsolete, derogatory) A pack or company of people.

* Shakespeare

Would not this get me a fellowship in a cry of players?

(ambitransitive, of an animal) A typical sound made by the species in question.

"Woof" is the cry of a dog, while "neigh" is the cry of a horse.

A desperate or urgent request.

(obsolete) Common report; gossip.

* Shakespeare

The cry goes that you shall marry her.

Derived terms

* battle cry * hue and cry * war cry

References

* * *

Statistics

Anagrams

* English intransitive verbs English reporting verbs English transitive verbs 1000 English basic words ----

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