[f. WAIL v. + -ING2.]
1. That utters mournful cries.
1382. Wyclif, Jer. ix. 17. Beholdeth, and clepeth weilende wymmen [Vulg. lamentatrices].
c. 1425. Found. St. Bartholomew’s (E.E.T.S.), 45. Whan for defawtynge of his hert the vtteryng of his voice beganne to breke, beholde, aforne the weylyng man seynt Barthilmewe stoid.
1742. Collins, Dirge in Cymbeline, 5. No wailing ghost shall dare appear To vex with shrieks this quiet grove.
1821. Galt, Ann. Parish, xviii. A wailing baby, and a widow’s heart, was a’ he left me.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, vi. See that every preparation is made for a royal funeral, and that the flute-players, the wailing-women,… be all in readiness.
2. Of cries, words: Expressing lamentation. Of sounds: Resembling a wail.
1576. Gascoigne, Kenelworth Castle, Wks. 1910, II. 128. With wailing words and mourning notes.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LXXVIII. xxv. No widow left to use her wailing voice.
1790. Burns, Elegy Capt. M. H., 18. Come join, ye Nature’s sturdiest bairns, My wailing numbers!
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxxiii. I only heard … the wailing and prolonged sound of their trumpets.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xvi. 112. Through the gaps … the wind rushed with a loud, wild, wailing sound.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, I. 274. Chanting, as they went, a shrill wailing dirge.
Hence Wailingly adv.
1836. Lytton, Athens (1837), II. 37. The wide earth echoes wailingly.
1848. S. Carter, Midnight Effusions, 216.
| Hark! now its rich and thrilling voice | |
| In melody is gushing, | |
| Now tremulous and wailingly | |
| Its liquid notes are rushing. |
1902. Eliz. L. Banks, Newspaper Girl, 159. She sang the song of Dixie, sorrowfully, wailingly.
