crier

Everyday

1. A town crier: in olden times, a person who walked through the streets ringing a bell and shouting out news and announcements, often starting «Oyez! Oyez!» Some towns still have one for ceremonies. tree →
2. A person, especially a baby or child, who cries a lot: «The baby is a real crier». tree →
3. (law, old) An officer in a law court who makes announcements. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons about life before newspapers and the internet, the town crier spread news; today some UK, Canadian and Australian towns keep a crier for festivals. In family life, parents describe babies as «good sleepers» or «criers». Phrases: «town crier», «a big crier», «Oyez, oyez!»

Examples

• The town crier rang his bell and shouted the news. tree →
• In the Middle Ages, most people learned the news from the town crier. tree →
• Our town crier wears a red coat and a three-cornered hat. tree →
• «Oyez! Oyez!» called the crier. tree →
• My baby cousin is a real crier at bedtime. tree →
• I'm a bit of a crier at sad films. tree →
• The town crier announced the birth of the prince. tree →
• Prince Ali accepted the merchant’s obliging offer, and presently afterward the crier passed by. tree →

Note

Spelled «crier», not «cryer» (though «cryer» appears sometimes as a name). Formed from «cry»: the y changes to i before -er. «Oyez» is an old French word meaning «hear ye!» (listen!), said «oh-YAY».