Wail vs Keening - What's the difference?
wail | keening | Related terms |
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.
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(obsolete) To choose; to select.
* Henryson
Sharp, shrill, especially of a sound.
Intense mournful wailing after a death, often at a funeral or wake
(by extension) An unpleasant sound.
As nouns the difference between wail and keening
is that wail is a prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish while keening is intense mournful wailing after a death, often at a funeral or wake.As verbs the difference between wail and keening
is that wail is to cry out, as in sorrow or anguish while keening is present participle of lang=en.As an adjective keening is
sharp, shrill, especially of a sound.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
keening
English
Adjective
(-)- ''The keening sound of a dentist's drill sets my teeth on edge"
