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H1ph0pb0y Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

cry and weep

0 can u give me some explanation about how different between cry and weep?02br
00i'm so confused.......02br
00thank u in advance.0-
  

Top answer

0There is no essential difference in meaning between cry and weep, but weep is a stronger word because it implies greater emotion and would generally be employed if the speaker or writer wished to emphasise, or use poetic effect. For example, the George Harrison song title "While my guitar gently weeps" would sound very strange if it were "While my guitar gently gently cries". The use here is poetic rather than literal, because obviously guitars do not really weep (or cry), and so weep is more correct.

— Demetrius

  • 0There is no essential difference in meaning between cry and weep, but weep is a stronger word because it implies greater emotion and would generally be employed if the speaker or writer wished to emphasise, or use poetic effect.
  • For example, the George Harrison song title "While my guitar gently weeps" would sound very strange if it were "While my guitar gently gently cries".
  • The use here is poetic rather than literal, because obviously guitars do not really weep (or cry), and so weep is more correct.
  • Similarly, the biblical reference to "weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth" is intended to convey a sense of high emotion.
  • Crying and wailing would be dissonant for that reason.
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9 Answers
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0There is no essential difference in meaning between cry and weep, but weep is a stronger word because it implies greater emotion and would generally be employed if the speaker or writer wished to emphasise, or use poetic effect. For example, the George Harrison song title "While my guitar gently weeps" would sound very strange if it were "While my guitar gently gently cries". The use here is po
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0 thank u.....i totally understood ur explanation.0-
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0cry and weep is ok.02br
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00but i couldnt understand the difference between weep and wail?02br
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00or is there any difference?0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Janissary12cite10cry and weep is ok.12br
12br
10but i couldnt understand the difference between weep and wail?12br
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10or is there any difference?12br
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00 Janissary--02br
00 One might wail without weeping, and vice-versa.
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0Hi guys,02br
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00I'd just like to stress that 'cry' is a common, 'everyday' word. On the other hand, 'weep and 'wail' are much, much more uncommon. I don't actually remember the last time I heard anyone use these two words.02br
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00Best wishes, Clive0-
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0Jesus wept 05000.010id1
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0Yes; we seem to reserve "weep" for occasions when we want to dignify the phenomenon; whereas "cry" seems to range from "neutral" to "pejorative".02br
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001. By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and wept... 02br
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002. How wisely Nature did decree/With the same eyes to weep and see...02br
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003. Weep you no more, sad fountains
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0got it. thanks for all your explanations.0-
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Thank you for your explanation, it was easy to understand for me who I'm italian. Now I understand why "While my guitar gently weeps" is not "While my guitar gently cries"
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