weeper

Everyday

1. A weeper is a person who weeps, who cries easily or often. tree →
2. A weeper can be a sad film or story that makes people cry (informal; also «weepie»). tree →
3. In history, weepers were people paid to cry at funerals, or small statues of mourners on old tombs. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and fairy tales «weeper» is an old-fashioned word for someone who cries; in films people call a very sad film «a real weeper» or «weepie». In history lessons, Victorian and medieval funerals sometimes had weepers (mourners). In nature, plants with drooping branches are called «weeping», like the weeping willow. Phrases: «a weeper», «weeping willow».

Examples

• My little brother is a weeper at sad films. tree →
• That film was a real weeper. tree →
• The old tomb had carved weepers around it. tree →
• Don't be ashamed of being a weeper — crying is natural. tree →
• Hired weepers walked behind the coffin long ago. tree →
• The weeper dried her eyes with a hanky. tree →

Note

Plural: weepers. Rare word; «crier» and «weepie» are more common. Verb: weep, wept, wept. Crying is healthy, not a weakness.