😭 A wailing 😭 Mournful sound

keening

8.3

Making a long high sad sound that shows grief

adjective
/ˈkiːnɪŋ/

Archaic

: lamento

The keening cry of the mourners echoed through the quiet village.

Examples

She let out a keening wail at the funeral.
Her keening voice filled the room as she sang the lament.
A keening wind swept across the fields, carrying a sense of sorrow.
The keening sound of the bagpipes filled the air.
The keening wail of the grieving mother shattered the stillness of the night.
During the memorial service, a keening sound rang out, expressing the deep sorrow of the attendees.
As the storm approached, the keening wind howled, reflecting a sense of loss in the desolate landscape.

Synonyms

squealing

vskeening

1 4.1

A high, sharp sound made by a mouse or brakes

is focused on mournful sound rather than a neutral piercing noise

lamenting

vskeening

Formal

5.8

Having a sad sound like a soft song or cry that shows sadness

focuses on a high, sharp mournful sound quality rather than general vocal grief

Antonyms

celebration

430 1.0

A happy event such as a party that marks a special occasion or achievement

rejoicing

6 2.8

Great joy and celebration after good news or success

How Mournful

ululation

1 9.9

keening

Archaic

8.3

wailing

5 3.5

sobbing

69 1.0

lamenting

Formal

5.8

to moan

177 1.0

Surface Forms

keening positive

Morphology

keening = keen (opaque) = keen + ing

The transformation from 'keen' to 'keening' involves a shift in meaning from eagerness to a mournful sound, which is not transparent.

Etymology

Keening comes from the Irish word caoineadh, which means 'to wail' or 'to cry' and was used for loud funeral cries. So a keening sound is a high, sorrowful cry.