n.
Pronunciation: ' w ā l
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English weilen, waylen, perhaps modification (influenced by Middle English weilawei wellaway) of Old Norse væla, v ā la to wail; akin to Old Norse vei woe ― more at WOE
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1 : to express sorrow audibly : LAMENT
2 : to make a sound suggestive of a mournful cry
3 : to express dissatisfaction plaintively : COMPLAIN
transitive verb archaic
1 : BEWAIL
2 : to say or express plaintively < wail ed that her cake was ruined>
– wail · er \ ' w ā -l ə r \ noun