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Meaning of keening
The primary meaning of the word "keening" is a loud, wailing cry of grief or sorrow, typically for the dead.
Etymology of keening
The word "keening" originates from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word "caoinim" or "caoineadh", which means "I wail" or "lament"
The term has been used in English since the 16th century to describe the traditional form of lamentation in Irish and Scottish culture
Synonyms
wailing
lamenting
mourning
grieving
sorrowing
bemoaning
lamenting
bewailing
lamentation
crying
weeping
moaning
groaning
whimpering
sobbing
ululating
yelling
shrieking
screaming
howling
whining
keening
dirge
eulogy
threnody
requiem
lament
plaint
wail
moan
groan
whimper
sob
ululation
yell
shriek
scream
howl
whine
mournful
plaintive
sorrowful
dolorous
lugubrious
melancholy
doleful
dreary
dismal
gloomy
Definitions
- A loud, wailing cry, typically used to express grief or sorrow, especially for the dead
- * A traditional form of lamentation, especially in Irish and Scottish culture, where women would mourn the dead with loud, wailing cries
Usage Examples
- The mourners' keening filled the air as they walked behind the coffin
- * The traditional Irish keening was a haunting sound that sent shivers down the spine
- * The family's keening was a testament to their deep grief and sorrow