Groan vs Wail - What's the difference?
groan | wail |
A low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief.
A low, guttural sound uttered in frustration or disapproval.
To make a groan.
(obsolete) To strive after earnestly, as if with groans.
* Herbert
A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.
Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.
A sound made by emergency vehicle sirens, contrasted with "yelp" which is higher-pitched and faster.
To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.
To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.
To make a noise like mourning or crying.
To lament; to bewail; to grieve over.
(slang, music) To perform with great liveliness and force.
*
*
*
(obsolete) To choose; to select.
* Henryson
In obsolete terms the difference between groan and wail
is that groan is to strive after earnestly, as if with groans while wail is to choose; to select.As nouns the difference between groan and wail
is that groan is a low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief while wail is a prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.As verbs the difference between groan and wail
is that groan is to make a groan while wail is to cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.groan
English
Noun
(en noun)Verb
(en verb)- We groaned at his awful jokes.
- The wooden table groaned under the weight of the banquet.
- Nothing but holy, pure, and clear, / Or that which groaneth to be so.
Anagrams
* * *wail
English
Etymology 1
Probably from (etyl)Etymology inWebster's Dictionary
Noun
(en noun)- She let out a loud, doleful wail .
- The wail of snow-dark winter winds.
- A bird's wail in the night.
Verb
(en verb)- The wind wailed and the rain streamed down.
- to wail one's death
- (Shakespeare)
Derived terms
* wailer * wailinglyReferences
Etymology 2
Compare Icelandic word for "choice".Verb
(en verb)- Wailed wine and meats