Wail vs Wain - What's the difference?
wail | wain |
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
(archaic, or, literary) A wagon; a four-wheeled cart for hauling loads, usually pulled by horses or oxen.
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 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
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)- "The Hay Wain " is a famous painting by John Constable.
Quotations
* (English Citations of "wain")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]