moan

Definition

A low, mournful cry of pain, sorrow or pleasure.

Etymology

From Middle English mone, mane, mān, (also as mene), from Old English *mān, *mǣn (“complaint; lamentation”), from Proto-West Germanic *mainu, from Proto-Germanic *mainō (“opinion; mind”). Cognate with Old Frisian mēne (“opinion”), Old High German meina (“opinion”). Old English *mān, *mǣn is inferred from Old English mǣnan (“to complain over; grieve; mourn”). More at mean.

Example Sentences

• "let out a deep moan"
• "We heard the distant moan of a stag in pain."
• "to make one's moan"