vagitus etymology

Etymology:

• Latin "vagitus," from the verb "vagire," meaning "to cry like a child" or "to wail."

Meaning:

• The first cry of a newborn baby.
• A loud, piercing cry or wail.

Origin:

The Latin verb "vagire" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*weg-," meaning "to call" or "to speak." This root also appears in words such as "voice" and "vocation."

Usage:

The word "vagitus" is typically used in a literal sense to refer to the cry of a newborn baby. However, it can also be used metaphorically to describe any loud, piercing cry or wail. For example, a person might describe the sound of a siren as a "vagitus."

vagitus relate terms

• sough

  Etymology Old English sōcan verb Proto Germanic sōkijan Proto Indo European sē