cry

cry [krī]

vi.

cried, crying [ME crien < OFr crier < L quiritare, to wail, shriek (var. of quirritare, to squeal like a pig < * quis, echoic of a squeal); assoc. in ancient folk etym. with L Quirites, Roman citizens (as if meaning “to call the Quirites,” implore their help)]

1. to make a loud vocal sound or utterance; call out, as for help; shout

2. to sob and shed tears, in expressing sorrow, pain, grief, etc.; weep

3.

a) to plead or clamor (for)

b) to show or suggest a great need (for) [problems crying for solution]

4. to utter its characteristic call: said of an animal

vt.

1. to plead or beg for [to cry quarter]

2. to utter loudly; shout; exclaim

3. to call out (wares for sale, services offered, etc.); announce publicly

4. to bring into a specified condition by crying [to cry oneself asleep]

n.

pl. cries [ME & OFr cri < the v.]

1. a loud vocal sound expressing pain, anger, fright, joy, etc.

2. any loud utterance; shout

3. an announcement or advertisement called out publicly

4. an urgent appeal; plea

5. popular report; rumor; rallying call or battle cry; watchword

6. the current opinion or fashion

7. clamor of the people; public outcry

8. a slogan

9. a sobbing and shedding of tears; fit of weeping

10. the characteristic vocal sound of an animal

11.

a) the baying of hounds in the chase

b) a pack of hounds

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a far cry

1. a great distance; long way

2. a thing much different

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cry down

to belittle; disparage

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cry in one's beer

Informal to lament or complain in a maudlin manner

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cry off

to withdraw from an agreement or undertaking

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cry one's eyes out

to weep much and bitterly

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cry out

1. to shout; yell

2. to complain loudly

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cry up

to shout praise of; praise highly

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in full cry

in eager pursuit: said of a pack of hounds

SYN.- CRY implies the expression of grief, sorrow, pain or distress by making mournful, convulsive sounds and shedding tears; WEEP more specifically stresses the shedding of tears; to SOB¹ is to weep aloud with a catch in the voice and short, gasping breaths; WAIL implies the uttering of loud, prolonged, mournful cries in unsuppressed lamentation; KEEN², specifically an Irish term, signifies a wailing in lamentation for the dead; to WHIMPER is to cry with subdued, whining, broken sounds, as a fretful or frightened child does; MOAN suggests the expression of sorrow or pain in a low, prolonged, mournful sound or sounds; BLUBBER², a derisive term used chiefly of children, implies a contorting or swelling of the face with weeping, and broken, inarticulate speech