---
title: wail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «wail» in the school dictionary: To wail is to cry out with a long, loud, high sound because of pain, sadness or anger. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# wail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** wail, Things, baby, toy, siren, ambulance · **What happens:** wail, be, begin, fall, race, not be · **To what, where:** long cry, old house, forest, ship · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«wail» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [wail in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wail.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To wail is to cry out with a long, loud, high sound because of pain, sadness or anger.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:m1:1
# text = To wail is to cry out with a long, loud, high sound because of pain, sadness or anger.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	wail	wail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	cry	cry	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
11	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
13	high	high	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	sound	sound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
15	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	pain	pain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
19	sadness	sadness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	_
20	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
21	anger	anger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wail** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **be** *speech: express* | present |  |  |  |  |  | with a long loud high sound because pain and sadness or anger; cry *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A wail is such a long cry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:m2:1
# text = A wail is such a long cry.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wail	wail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	7	det:predet	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	cry	cry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a wail | such long cry |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Things like sirens or the wind can also wail.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:m3:1
# text = Things like sirens or the wind can also wail.
1	Things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
2	like	like	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	sirens	siren	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
8	also	also	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	wail	wail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wail** | can | Things like sirens or the wind |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The baby began to wail when her toy fell.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:x1:1
# text = The baby began to wail when her toy fell.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	wail	wail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
7	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	toy	toy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **begin** | past | the baby |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **wail** | to-infinitive | the baby *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **fall** | past | baby's toy |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The siren wailed as the ambulance raced past.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:x2:1
# text = The siren wailed as the ambulance raced past.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	siren	siren	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wailed	wail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ambulance	ambulance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	raced	race	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	past	past	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wail** | past | the siren |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **race** | past | the ambulance |  |  |  |  | past *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The wind wailed around the old house.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:x3:1
# text = The wind wailed around the old house.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wailed	wail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	around	around	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wail** | past | the wind |  |  | the old house |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme around house=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"It's not fair!" he wailed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:x4:1
# text = "It's not fair!" he wailed.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	fair	fair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	wailed	wail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** *in a quote* | present | It |  |  |  |  | fair *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **wail** | past | he |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A long wail came from the forest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:x5:1
# text = A long wail came from the forest.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	wail	wail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | a long wail |  |  | the forest |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from forest=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The mourners wailed at the funeral.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:x6:1
# text = The mourners wailed at the funeral.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	mourners	mourner	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wailed	wail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	funeral	funeral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wail** | past | the mourners |  |  |  |  | at the funeral | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V PP.stimulus»: agent=Agent at funeral=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It wailed through the ship, and died away.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:wail:x7:1
# text = It wailed through the ship, and died away.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wailed	wail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	through	through	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ship	ship	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
9	away	away	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wail** | past | It |  |  | the ship |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme through ship=Location |
| 2 | **die away** | past |  |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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