Synonyms for crying


Grammar : Adj
Spell : krahy-ing
Phonetic Transcription : ˈkraɪ ɪŋ


Définition of crying

Origin :
  • early 13c., "beg, implore," from Old French crier, from Vulgar Latin *critare, from Latin quiritare "to wail, shriek" (source of Italian gridare, Old Spanish cridar, Spanish and Portuguese gritar), of uncertain origin; perhaps a variant of quirritare "to squeal like a pig," from *quis, echoic of squealing, despite ancient folk etymology that traces it to "call for the help of the Quirites," the Roman constabulary. The meaning was extended 13c. to weep, which it largely replaced by 16c. Related: Cried; crying.
  • Most languages, in common with English, use the general word for "cry out, shout, wail" to also mean "weep, shed tears to express pain or grief." Romance and Slavic, however, use words for this whose ultimate meaning is "beat (the breast)," cf. French pleurer, Spanish llorar, both from Latin plorare "cry aloud," but probably originally plodere "beat, clap the hands." Also Italian piangere (cognate with French plaindre "lament, pity") from Latin plangere, originally "beat," but especially of the breast, as a sign of grief. U.S. colloquial for crying out loud is 1924, probably another euphemism for for Christ's sake.
  • adj weeping
  • adj demanding attention
Example sentences :
  • Maggie had stood on the hearthrug, in her large white apron, crying.
  • Extract from : « Life and Death of Harriett Frean » by May Sinclair
  • She dropped her head on his arm, and he saw that she was crying.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • Her voice was muffled, and he knew then that she was crying.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • She had come through so much that every nerve was crying in passionate protest.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • If you have the pleasure of scolding, I surely can have that of crying.
  • Extract from : « The Imaginary Invalid » by Molire
  • Then, with scorn for my folly, I ran out into the hall, crying for help.
  • Extract from : « The Bacillus of Beauty » by Harriet Stark
  • Encouraged by the shouts of the multitude, who were crying to Cleon, "Why don't you go and do it?"
  • Extract from : « Stories from Thucydides » by H. L. Havell
  • Then crying, "I believe you, doctor; thank God for his mercy!"
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • It would do no good—it would be like crying over spilt milk.
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • She was crying bitterly, and sobbing as if her heart would break.
  • Extract from : « The Paradise of Children » by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019