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Wail vs Wain - What's the difference?

wail | wain |

As nouns the difference between wail and wain

is that wail is a prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish while wain is wine.

As a verb wail

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

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.
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  • 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

    wain

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) . Cognate with West Frisian wein, Dutch wagen, German Wagen, Danish/Norwegian vogn, Swedish vagn. Compare the doublet (wagon).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archaic, or, literary) A wagon; a four-wheeled cart for hauling loads, usually pulled by horses or oxen.
  • "The Hay Wain " is a famous painting by John Constable.

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • As the auto industry is waining away, the city is looking for something new. [http://www.modeldmedia.com/inthenews/urbanfarm15108.aspx]

    Anagrams

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