cry
UK[kraɪ]US[kraɪ]
v
to produce tears from your eyes, usually because you are unhappy or hurt
v
to shout or say something loudly
n
a loud sound expressing a strong emotion, especially pain, fear, or happiness
n
a period of shedding tears
Etymology
The word 'cry' entered English in the 13th century from the Anglo-Norman and Old French 'crier', meaning 'to cry out, shout, proclaim'. This French term itself derived from the Latin 'quiritare', a verb meaning 'to wail, shriek', which was associated with public lamentation. The Latin root is thought to be an intensive form related to 'queri', meaning 'to complain'. The semantic journey thus moved from a specific, loud vocal expression of complaint or lament to encompass both loud shouts and the act of weeping, linking the concepts through the intensity of vocal expression.
Analysis
The word 'cry' is a simplex word of Anglo-Norman and Old French origin. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller, independent morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The baby began to cry when his mother left the room.
"Watch out!" he cried as the ball flew toward the crowd.
She let out a cry of joy when she saw the surprise.