wailing

Everyday

1. A long, loud, high cry of pain, sadness or anger. tree →
2. A long, high sound like a cry, such as a siren or the wind. tree →
3. (informal) Complaining loudly and at length. tree →
4. The Wailing Wall is a name for the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a holy place where Jewish people pray. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, wailing tells the reader that someone is very upset: a baby wailing in the night, mourners wailing at a funeral. It can also describe sounds: a wailing siren or the wind wailing in the chimney. The Western Wall in Jerusalem is a very holy place for Jewish people; "Wailing Wall" is an older name, and many prefer "Western Wall". Phrases: "wailing and crying", "a wailing siren", "the Wailing Wall".

Examples

• The baby was wailing in the middle of the night. tree →
• We heard the wailing of a fire engine's siren. tree →
• The wind was wailing around the old house. tree →
• There was wailing and crying when the dog ran away. tree →
• Stop wailing about your homework and just start it! tree →
• People pray at the Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall. tree →
• The ghost in the story made a terrible wailing sound. tree →
• In one of the houses he heard cries and wailing. tree →

Note

"Wail" is a regular verb (wailed, wailing). Homophone trap: "wailing" sounds like "whaling" (hunting whales) and "Wales" sounds like "wails"; check the spelling by meaning. Wailing is louder and longer than crying or sobbing.

In Jewish tradition

In Genesis it is the loud crying of mourning. The prophets use it for the cry of grief when a city, people or leaders fall.

Interpretation. The seven-day mourning for Jacob is a model for the Jewish custom of shiva, the seven days of mourning after a death. The prophets' wailing is read as grief over the coming ruin.

Examples

• And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they wailed with a very great and sore wailing; and he made a mourning for his father seven days. (Torah GEN.50.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion: 'How are we undone! (Prophets JER.9.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• Hark! the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the leaders of the flock! (Prophets JER.25.36, JPS 1917) tree →
• Hark! the wailing of the shepherds, for their glory is spoiled; Hark! the roaring of young lions, for the thickets of the Jordan are spoiled. (Prophets ZEC.11.3, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

"Wail" is a regular verb (wailed, wailing). Homophone trap: "wailing" sounds like "whaling" (hunting whales) and "Wales" sounds like "wails"; check the spelling by meaning. Wailing is louder and longer than crying or sobbing.